Shelia6340 at 18:47, 23 March 2026

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{{short description|Indian cricketer and politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kirti Azad
| image =
| country = India
| birth_name = Kirtivardhan Jha Azad
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|01|02|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bhagalpur]], [[Bihar]], India
| nickname =
| heightft =
| heightinch =
| heightm =
| term_start = 4 June 2024
| predecessor = [[S. S. Ahluwalia]]
| constituency = [[Bardhaman–Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency|Bardhaman–Durgapur]]
| office = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency2 = [[Darbhanga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Darbhanga]]
| term_start1 = 16 May 2009
| term_end1 = 23 May 2019
| predecessor1 = [[Mohammad Ali Ashraf Fatmi]]
| successor1 = [[Gopal Jee Thakur]]
| constituency1 = [[Darbhanga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Darbhanga]]
| term_start2 = 1999
| term_end2 = 2004
| predecessor2 = [[Mohammad Ali Ashraf Fatmi]]
| successor2 = [[Mohammad Ali Ashraf Fatmi]]
| office3 = [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the]] [[Delhi Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start3 = 1993
| term_end3 = 1998
| constituency3 = [[New Delhi Assembly constituency|Gole Market]]
| successor3 = [[Shiela Dixit]]
| party = [[Trinamool Congress]] {{small|{{nowrap|(2021–present)}}}}
| spouse = Poonam Azad {{small|{{nowrap|(d. 2024)}}}}
| father = [[Bhagwat Jha Azad]]
| children = 2
| module = {{Infobox cricketer | embed=yes
|batting = Right-handed
|bowling = Right-arm offbreak
|role = Bowler
|international = true
|country=India
|testdebutdate = 21 February
|testdebutyear = 1981
|testdebutagainst = New Zealand
|testcap = 150
|lasttestdate = 12 November
|lasttestyear = 1983
|lasttestagainst = West Indies
|odidebutdate = 6 December
|odidebutyear = 1980
|odidebutagainst = Australia
|odicap = 29
|lastodidate = 18 April
|lastodiyear = 1986
|lastodiagainst = Pakistan
|club1 = [[Delhi cricket team|Delhi]]
|year1 = 1976–1994
|columns = 4
|column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
|matches1 = 7
|runs1 = 135
|bat avg1 = 11.25
|100s/50s1 = 0/0
|top score1 = 24
|deliveries1 = 750
|wickets1 = 3
|bowl avg1 = 124.33
|fivefor1 = 0
|tenfor1 = 0
|best bowling1 = 2/84
|catches/stumpings1 = 3/–
|column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
|matches2 = 25
|runs2 = 269
|bat avg2 = 14.15
|100s/50s2 = 0/0
|top score2 = 39[[not out|*]]
|deliveries2 = 390
|wickets2 = 7
|bowl avg2 = 39.00
|fivefor2 = 0
|tenfor2 = 0
|best bowling2 = 2/48
|catches/stumpings2 = 7/–
|column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|matches3 = 142
|runs3 = 6,634
|bat avg3 = 39.48
|100s/50s3 = 20/27
|top score3 = 215
|deliveries3 = 15,420
|wickets3 = 234
|bowl avg3 = 30.72
|fivefor3 = 5
|tenfor3 = 0
|best bowling3 = 7/63
|catches/stumpings3 = 95/–
|column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
|matches4 = 72
|runs4 = 1,521
|bat avg4 = 27.16
|100s/50s4 = 0/8
|top score4 = 94
|deliveries4 = 2,086
|wickets4 = 50
|bowl avg4 = 27.48
|fivefor4 = 0
|tenfor4 = 0
|best bowling4 = 3/16
|catches/stumpings4 = 22/–
|date = 19 August 2014
|source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/26325.html ESPNcricinfo
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Cricket]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Cricket World Cup|ICC Cricket World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[1983 Cricket World Cup|1983 England and Wales]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asia Cup|ACC Asia Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[1984 Asia Cup|1984 United Arab Emirates]]|}}
}}
| otherparty = [[Indian National Congress]] <br />{{small|{{nowrap|(2019–2021)}}}} <br/>
[[Bharatiya Janata Party]] <br />{{small|{{nowrap|(1990–2019)}}}}
}}

'''Kirtivardhan Jha Azad''' ({{audio|Kirti_Azad.ogg|pronunciation}}; born 2 January 1959) is an Indian politician and former [[cricket]]er. Azad was a member of the Indian team that won the [[1983 Cricket World Cup]].

Azad is the son of former [[Chief Minister of Bihar]] [[Bhagwat Jha Azad]]. He was a right-hand batsman and an offspinner. A surprise choice for the tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1980–81, he made his Test debut at Wellington. He was part of the Indian team that won the [[1983 Cricket World Cup]].<ref name="Auto15-2">{{cite web | url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/26325.html | title = Kirti Azad | publisher=ESPNcricinfo | access-date = 6 March 2011}}</ref>

Azad won the [[2014 Lok Sabha election]] for Darbhanga, Bihar. In February 2019, Kirti Azad joined [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rebel BJP MP Kirti Azad joins Congress |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cricketer-turned-politician-kirti-azad-joins-congress/article26301848.ece |work=The Hindu |date=18 February 2019|language=en-IN}}</ref> He joined [[Trinamool Congress]] (TMC) after meeting TMC chief [[Mamata Banerjee]] in Delhi on 23 November 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Congress leader Kirti Azad joins TMC |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/congress-leader-kirti-azad-joins-tmc/articleshow/87872157.cms |work=Economic Times |date=23 November 2021}}</ref>

==Domestic career==

Azad attended [[Modern School (New Delhi)|Modern School]] in [[Delhi]] where he was part of the school cricket team. Azad, was an allrounder for [[Delhi cricket team|Delhi]] for many years, and in 95 [[Ranji Trophy]] matches he scored 4867 runs at an average of 47.72 and took 162 wickets at and average of 28.91. His highest score was 215 against [[Himachal Pradesh cricket team|Himachal Pradesh]] in 1985–86.

==International career==
Azad was a surprise choice for the tour of [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] in 1980–81, making his Test debut at [[Wellington]]. He then played three Tests without much success against England in 1981-82 and was later picked for the [[1983 Cricket World Cup|1983 World Cup]].<ref name="Auto15-2"/>

In his international career, Azad played 7 test matches (1981–83) and 25 one-day-internationals (1980–86). Though full of potential, he couldn't take his domestic performance to the international level, scoring only 135 test runs and 269 in one-days. He picked 3 and 7 wickets in the two forms, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kirti Azad |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/26325.html |work=ESPNcricinfo |publisher=ESPN Sports Media Ltd. |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref>

==Politics==
Azad followed his father [[Bhagwat Jha Azad]], former Chief Minister of [[Bihar]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampdetail.php?mpcode=25 |title=Shri Kirti (Jha) Azad - Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha) - Who's Who - Government: National Portal of India |access-date=6 January 2020 |archive-date=5 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905160139/http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampdetail.php?mpcode=25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> into politics and was elected to Parliament on a [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) ticket from [[Darbhanga]], Bihar. He served his second term in the Lok Sabha representing Darbhanga. He was previously an MLA from Delhi's [[Gole Market]] constituency.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/11/23/stories/2003112304280400.htm | title = A veteran-newcomer fight at Gole Market | work = [[The Hindu]] | access-date = 6 March 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050904014658/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/11/23/stories/2003112304280400.htm | archive-date = 4 September 2005 | url-status = usurped }}</ref> He won the 2014 [[Lok Sabha]] Elections from Darbhanga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/election-live-2014-march-13/|title = Election LIVE: BJP's third candidate list out, Ram Kripal to contest from Patliputra against Lalu's daughter|date = 14 March 2014}}</ref> On 23 December 2015 he was suspended from BJP for openly targeting Union finance minister [[Arun Jaitley]] over alleged irregularities and corruption in Delhi's cricket body Delhi and District Cricket Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kirti Azad Suspended By BJP For Publicly Targeting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-may-take-action-against-kirti-azad-for-targeting-arun-jaitley-sources-1258122|work=[[NDTV]]|access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref> Azad joined the [[Indian National Congress]] on 18 February 2019.<ref>{{cite news | title =Cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad joins Congress | url =https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cricketer-turned-politician-kirti-azad-joins-congress/articleshow/68044490.cms| work = [[The Times of India]]| date =18 February 2019| access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
He fought general election from Dhanbad Lok Sabha constituency for 2019 representing Indian National Congress, against BJP candidate Pashupati Nath Singh and lost it with a margin of 4.8 lakhs. In November 2021, Azad joined the [[Trinamool Congress]] ahead of the [[2022 Goa Legislative Assembly election]] and said that he will work under [[Mamata Banerjee]] till retirement from politics.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kirti-azad-trinamool-congress-7636867/ | title=Congress leader Kirti Azad joins TMC; says will work under Mamata Banerjee till retirement from politics | date=23 November 2021 }}</ref> Since 5 March 2022, he has also been the State In-charge of the [[Trinamool Congress]] in [[Goa]], succeeding [[Mahua Moitra]]. Azad won the 2024 Lok Sabha Election from the Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency in West Bengal.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kirti Azad won Lok Sabha Election 2024 from Burdwan-Durgapur seat. |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/election/lok-sabha-elections/kirti-azad-burdwan-durgapur-seat-result-2024-snk |access-date=17 June 2024 |work=Prabhat Khabar}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Azad was married to Poonam, who was a politician and a member of [[Aam Aadmi Party]], and later [[Indian National Congress]]. Poonam died on 2 September 2024. They had two sons, Suryavardan and Somyavardhan.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://archive.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampdetail.php?mpcode=25 | title = Detailed Profile: Shri Kirti (Jha) Azad | publisher=National Portal of India | access-date = 7 January 2020 | archive-date = 5 September 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160905160139/http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampdetail.php?mpcode=25 | url-status = dead }}</ref> His elder son Suryavardhan has played for the Delhi Under-17s, Under-19s and Under-22s, while his younger son Somyavardhan has played the for Delhi Under-15s and Under-17s.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/182/182860/182860.html | title = Surya Azad | publisher=CricketArchive | access-date = 6 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/254/254666/254666.html | title = Somyavardhan Azad | publisher=CricketArchive | access-date = 3 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/1983-world-cup-winner-and-tmc-mp-kirti-azads-wife-passes-away-3173389 | title=1983 World Cup winner and TMC MP Kirti Azad's wife passes away }}</ref>

Former IPS officer and ex-Information Commissioner Yashovardhan Azad is his elder brother.

==Views on IPL==

Following a 2012 [[sting operation]] on players of the [[Indian Premier League]] (IPL), Azad came out in opposition of the tournament and demanded that it be banned.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|title=Kirti Azad begins hunger fast against IPL|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kirti-azad-begins-hunger-fast-against-ipl/259702-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523043722/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kirti-azad-begins-hunger-fast-against-ipl/259702-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2012|access-date=21 May 2012|newspaper=IBNLive|date=20 May 2012}}</ref>
Speaking about the Indian T20 team, he reportedly alleged that the players played for self rather than the country. He further said that he felt agitated and ashamed to be associated with the [[Board of Control for Cricket in India|BCCI]] in the wake of the IPL controversy.

== Controversy ==
In December 2025, during the winter session of the Lok Sabha, BJP MP [[Anurag Thakur]] alleged—without naming anyone—that a [[Trinamool Congress]] MP had used an [[e-cigarette]] inside the Parliament House. The allegation triggered sharp political controversy, which intensified after a video surfaced showing TMC MP Kirti Azad holding and inhaling an object. Notably, smoking is strictly prohibited inside Parliament, and e-cigarettes have been completely banned in India since 2019, with penalties including fines and imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kirti Azad: পার্লামেন্ট কক্ষে ই-সিগারেটে টান TMC-র 'কীর্তি', BJP-র VIDEO পোস্টে দাবি |url=https://bangla.aajtak.in/west-bengal/story/kirti-azad-tmc-e-cigarettes-in-parliament-bjp-claims-in-video-post-rjk-1318646-2025-12-17 |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=AajTak Bangla |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title='Mamata must clarify': BJP claims TMC MP Kirti Azad vaped inside Lok Sabha; shares video |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mamata-must-clarify-bjp-claims-tmp-mp-kirti-azad-vaped-inside-lok-sabha-shares-clip/amp_articleshow/126035715.cms |access-date=2025-12-19 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyagi |first=Vanshika |title=BIG trouble for TMC! MP Kirti Azad caught 'vaping' in Lok Sabha, BJP releases video, says, 'Imagine audacity…', WATCH |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-big-trouble-for-tmc-mp-kirti-azad-caught-vaping-in-lok-sabha-bjp-releases-video-says-imagine-audacity-3193986 |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=DNA India |language=en}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Azad played himself in the lead role of the 2019 Indian film ''[[Kirket]]''. The 2021 Indian film ''[[83 (film)|83]]'', which is based on India's World Cup win, featured Dinker Sharma portraying Azad's character.<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 January 2020|title=Ranveer Singh introduces Dinker Sharma as Kirti Azad in '83' character poster|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/ranveer-singh-introduces-dinker-sharma-as-kirti-azad-in-83-character-poster-120011600701_1.html|access-date=2021-03-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ranveer Singh introduces Dinker Sharma as Kirti Azad in '83'|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/ranveer-singh-introduces-dinker-sharma-as-kirti-azad-in-83|access-date=2021-03-21|website=Free Press Journal|date=16 January 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{India Squad 1983 Cricket World Cup}}
{{India Squad 1984 Asia Cup}}
{{16th LS members from Bihar}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azad, Kirti}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:India One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:India Test cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:North Zone cricketers]]
[[Category:Delhi cricketers]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1983 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:India MPs 2014–2019]]
[[Category:India MPs 2009–2014]]
[[Category:India MPs 1999–2004]]
[[Category:Indian sportsperson-politicians]]
[[Category:India national cricket team selectors]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Bihar]]
[[Category:Delhi University alumni]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Bihar]]
[[Category:People from Darbhanga]]
[[Category:Indian cricket commentators]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Bihar]]
[[Category:D. B. Close's XI cricketers]]
[[Category:Trinamool Congress politicians from Bihar]]
[[Category:People from Delhi]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance candidates in 2024 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Delhi MLAs 1993–1998]]

Kirti Azad - Revision history

Shelia6340 at 18:47, 23 March 2026