In a significant development, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to join the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Friday. Harbhajan Singh was a vital cog of the Indian cricket team that won two major World Cup titles, including the inaugural 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC World Cup.
It is worth noting that Harbhajan transitioned into public life after his cricketing career and entered politics by joining the Aam Aadmi Party. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party nominated him to the Rajya Sabha in 2022.
Now, the recent news of Harbhajan Singh joining the BJP has brought back the buzz around the many cricketers who have turned politicians after calling time on their cricket careers.
Indian cricketers who turned politicians
After making a name in cricket, cricketers often stay close to the sport by becoming coaches or commentators after retirement. On the other hand, some chose other professions, like starting their own businesses or spending time with their families and shooting commercials for income.
However, a section of the cricketers have decided to join politics in recent times to serve the people of the country. In that context, below is a list of Indian cricketers who went on to pursue politics for social services after hanging up their boots in cricket:
All India Trinamool Congress (formerly BJP/Congress)
Former MP from Darbhanga
5
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi
Former Indian Captain
Indian National Congress
Contested Bhopal Lok Sabha seat (1991)
6
Chetan Chauhan
1983 World Cup winner
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Former Minister in the Uttar Pradesh Government
7
Harbhajan Singh
2007 T20 World Cup & 2011 World Cup Winner
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
8
Manoj Tiwary
Domestic Giant & India player
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC)
Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports (WB)
9
Vinod Kambli
Former Batter
Lok Bharati Party
Vice-President of Lok Bharati Party
10
S. Sreesanth
2007 T20 World Cup
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Contested 2016 Kerala Assembly Elections
11
Yusuf Pathan
2007 T20 World Cup & 2011 World Cup Winner
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC)
Member of Parliament (MP)
12
Kedar Jadhav
2017 ICC Champions Trophy (runner-up)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
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Most prominent cricketing giants who joined politics in recent times
3) Kedar Jadhav, BJP
Former Indian cricketer Kedar Jadhav joined the BJP in April 2025. Jadhav has represented India in 73 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) since his debut in 2014 against Sri Lanka. In domestic cricket, he represented Maharashtra and played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for teams including Chennai Super Kings.
Moreover, on June 3, 2024, Kedar Jadhav announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
2) Yusuf Pathan, TMC
Another veteran Indian cricketer, Yusuf Pathan, joined The All India Trinamool Congress in March 2024. It is worth noting that Pathan contested and won the 2024 Indian general election, representing TMC from the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal.
Before calling curtains on his international career on February 26, 2021, the former India all-rounder represented the nation from 2008 to 2012, during which he played 57 ODIs and 22 Twenty20 International matches.
He was a part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning team in 2007 and also the side that clinched the ODI World Cup in 2011.
1) Gautam Gambhir, BJP
Former Indian cricketer and the current Head coach of the ICT, Gautam Gambhir, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on March 22, 2019, ahead of the general elections.
He was welcomed by senior leaders and later won the East Delhi parliamentary constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He officially stepped away from politics in March 2024 to join his former IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), as a mentor for the 2024 season.
In his maiden edition as the KKR mentor, he won the IPL 2024 title, after which he was presented with the role of the Indian men’s cricket team’s head coach.
Moreover, he was a cornerstone of India's top order, crucial to the 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup wins, and was named the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in 2009.
Post-retirement, Gautam Gambhir has also established himself as one of the most successful coaches of the Indian Cricket Team. He became the first to win two major ICC trophies: the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Gautam Gambhir | Harbhajan Singh (Source: AFP)
