Profile

India`s ``winningest`` captain in both Tests and One-day internationals started his career in 1984-85 in a spectacular fashion,setting a world record by scoring a century in each of his first three Tests. A dashing, wristy and elegant Hyderabad batsman, Azharuddin now forms the backbone of the Indian middle order batting. His wristy flicks, glances and drives are a veritable feast for the eye, and once in the groove he can be utterly unstoppable. Among other accomplishments, he used to have to his credit the fastest century in one-day cricket, scored against NZ, until this record was broken by the explosive Sri Lankan opener, Sanath Jayasuriya, and later Shahid Afridi. He is an outstanding player of spin and medium-pace bowling. Also sharing the record for the quickest test century by an Indian

Non-batting

Azhar occasionaly used to bowl brisk offspinners in one day cricket, until a back strain forced him to stop.

He is among the best, if not the best fielder in the world, pulling off unbelievable catches, spectacular diving stops, tremendous pieces of ground fielding, and many a run outs with his trademark flick-of-the-wrist returns from gully and backward point. 

Recent Times

He is the most experienced member of the squad and was the captain till about August 1996, when he was, in my view, unjustly removed from captaincy on the basis of just a bad patch he was passing through. As a leader, he used to command the respect of his entire team.

He had a good series against S. Africa in Winter 1996. But a little careless performance in the Carribean lead to him being dropped from the Team for the Independence cup, a very controversial decision. But now he's back and had a great series in Sri Lanka. He has the Highest average among Indian Batsmen in both the onedayers and the tests ( he got centuries in both ).

Azhar was reappointed as captain in Jan and has had a good run since. 

Career Record:

TESTS
 (including 06/03/1998)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave 100  50   Ct St
Batting              89  129   7  5476  199   44.88  19  19   96  -

                       O      M     R   W    Ave  Best   5 10    SR  Econ
Bowling                2.1    0    16   0    -     -     -  -    -   7.38

ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
 (including 18/01/1998)
                      M    I  NO  Runs   HS     Ave 100  50   Ct St
Batting             273  252  48  7719  111*  37.83   5  47  126  -

                       O      M     R   W    Ave  Best  4w 5w    SR  Econ
Bowling               92      1   479  12  39.91  3-19   -  -  46.0  5.20