Who is Mohammed Azharuddeen? All you need to know about star Kerala batter

A name that relates with every cricket fan, Mohammad Azharuddin. The former India captain, known for his classic stroke play and smart captaincy, played 334 ODIs and 99 Test matches, leaving an indelible and exceptional mark on the game of cricket.

Meanwhile, Kerala's Mohammed Azharuddeen’s journey to this stage is equally fascinating. The eighth child of BK Moidu and Nabeesa, he was born in March 1994 in Thalangara, Kasaragod. Ironically, Indian cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin was leading the side in New Zealand at that time, and while his parents initially considered naming him Ajmal, his eldest brother Kamaruddeen, who is a cricket fanatic, insisted on naming his younger brother after his cricketing idol.

Fast forwarding to year 2025, another cricketer with a legendary name was writing his name in the record books. In Ahmedabad, on an engrossing Day 2 of the first Ranji Trophy semi-final, Kerala’s Mohammed Azharuddeen composed and owned his moment of glory against Gujarat.

Azharuddeen, chiseled his name in the record books as the first player who represented Kerala to score a century in the last-four stage of India’s premier domestic tournament. The 30-year-old batter's unbeaten 149 flung Kerala to an assertive 418 for seven by the end of Day 2, letting them mark in a superior position.

With Kerala under pressure, he walked in at a delicate 157 for four. However, his fortitude and serenity turned the game around. He built crucial partnerships, first with skipper Sachin Baby and then with Salman Nizar gearing it up steadily turning up the innings towards dominance.

Also Read: Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Semifinals 1 & 2, Day 2 Review

This couldn't have come at a better time as this out-of-the-box knock marks only the second first-class century of Azharuddeen’s career. Under pressure, his ability to rise to the occasion showcased his growing caliber in domestic cricket.

Interestingly, years later, that name who created waves at one moment, is once again spreading all over in Indian cricket, as Mohammed Azharuddeen shows his mark and shows how to carve out his own legacy on the field.