Indian cricketer all-rounder started his second innings by joining a political party. He joined BJP days after announcing his retirement from T20Is. Jadeja last featured in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024. Before Jadeja, there are a lot of cricketers who joined politics after or during their cricketing career. Here is the list of cricketers who joined politics.
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja joined politics in 2024 days after India's T20 World Cup triumph. He joined BJP with his wife Rivaba Jadeja.
Manoj Tiwary
Cricketer Manoj Tiwary has joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections. Tiwary became a member of the party during a rally led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Hooghly district. It’s not uncommon for sports stars to transition into politics after retirement. Among cricketers, Imran Khan, the former Pakistan national captain and current Prime Minister, is one of the most prominent examples. Other notable cricketers who have ventured into politics include Aamir Sohail, Sarfraz Nawaz, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mashrafe Mortaza, Chetan Chauhan, and Hashan Tillakaratne.
Gautam Gambhir
Cricketer Gautam Gambhir announced his decision to join the BJP in March 2019, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a significant influence. The former opening batsman, who played a pivotal role in India's 2011 World Cup victory, made this political move following his retirement from cricket.
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Navjot Singh Sidhu
Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu took on a significant political role as he was appointed the Minister of Local Government, Tourism, and Cultural Affairs for the State of Punjab.
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi
Former India captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was one of the earliest cricketers to enter politics. He ran for a seat in the Lok Sabha on two occasions but was unsuccessful both times. After these defeats, Pataudi chose to withdraw from the political arena.
Mohammad Kaif
Recognized as one of the finest fielders in Indian cricket history, Mohammad Kaif joined the Congress party and contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Phulpur, Uttar Pradesh. During his international career, Kaif played 125 One Day Internationals and 13 Test matches between 2000 and 2006.
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