7. Mohammad Azharuddin
Profile
Born: February 8, 1963, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Current age: 50 years 293 days
Major teams: India, Derbyshire, Hyderabad (India)
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
One of the best leg-side players Indian has produced in the modern era, a leg-glance or a punch through midwicket from Mohammad Azharuddin was worth the price of admission alone.
Personifying the kind of wrist-play that became the trademark of players from the sub-continent, Azharuddin expanded his range of shots to the off-side later in his career.
Azharuddin burst onto the world scene on the summer of 1984-85 where scored three tons against England in as many Tests.
But then allegations of match-fixing provided an emphatic full stop. That he finished his career with 99 Tests is perhaps appropriate for one who came within a whisker of batting immortality – only to throw it all away at close of play. He appealed against the life ban in the courts but the verdict is still awaited.
Check out Azharuddin’s 163 against Australia in 1998.
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