Azharuddin has been most famous for his wonderful wrist flicks that transformed a Cricket match into a poetic creation with aesthetic nuances of a masterpiece. Eventually, Azharuddin showed the best of his batting capabilities against spin bowlers.
Background
Azharuddin was born to father Mohammad Azizuddin and mother Yousuf Sultana in the year 1963 in Hyderabad. Azhar was the apple of his grandfather’s eyes and spent a lot of his childhood with him in Musheerabad. It was his grandfather who inspired him to keep high ambition in life and the one who could foresee a national player in his grandson.
Education
Azhar, as he is popularly known, grew up in Hyderabad and attended All Saints High School, Hyderabad in Hyderabad. Indian cricketers such as Venkatapathy Raju and Noel David are also alumni of the same school.
Career
Azhar scored a final total of 22 centuries in Test cricket at an average of 45, and 7 in ODIs at an average of 37. He has the unique distinction of scoring a century in each of his first three Tests – a feat unmatched till date. An excellent fielder, he took 156 catches in ODI cricket which was a world record until Mahela Jayawardene surpassed him. He had held world records for maximum ODI runs and fastest ODI hundred which were subsequently broken by other players. He also scored centuries in his first and last Test.
During India's 1990 Test series in England, Azhar came in to bat when his team was facing the prospect of following on and scored an aggressive century in just 87 balls. Many regard this as his best innings ever. India was saved from the follow-on but lost the match and the series.
His highest Test score is 199 in a Test match against Sri Lanka.
In 1991 he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year and was, for many years, an inspirational figure in the Indian team due to his athletic fielding and leadership.