5 Indian cricketers who starred in movies

In a country like India, playing cricket is a privilege, and those who get that chance always look to cherish it and make the most of their playing days. 

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However, there are some Indian cricketers who, despite achieving a lot on the cricket field, have also tried their luck in the film industry. With their acting appearances in films, they left fans both surprised and mesmerized.

Here are the 5 Indian cricketers who starred in movies

1. Kapil Dev

Former World Cup-winning India captain Kapil Dev has appeared in several films over the years. In the 2021 movie “83,” which was based on India’s historic 1983 Cricket World Cup triumph, Kapil made a cameo appearance. His other film credits include “Dillagi... Yeh Dillagi” (1994), “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi” (2004), “Iqbal” (2005), and “Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii” (2007).

Kapil Dev not only led Team India to their first-ever World Cup title in 1983 but also enjoyed a glorious individual career. The legendary all-rounder played 131 Tests, scoring 5,248 runs and taking 434 wickets. In 225 ODIs, he amassed 3,783 runs and picked up 253 wickets, making him one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history.   

2. Ajay Jadeja

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In 2003, former Team India cricketer Ajay Jadeja appeared alongside Bollywood stars Sunny Deol and Sunil Shetty in the movie “Khel.” He went on to play another role in the 2009 film “Pal Pal Dil Ke Ssaat.” In 2013, Jadeja made a cameo appearance as a cricket commentator in the critically acclaimed movie “Kai Po Che!”

As a cricketer, Jadeja had a solid limited-overs career, playing 196 ODIs and scoring 5,359 runs, while also picking up 20 wickets. However, his Test career was limited to just 15 matches, in which he scored 576 runs.

3. Harbhajan Singh

One of India’s most successful off-spinners, Harbhajan Singh, ventured into acting with cameo appearances in two Bollywood movies before making his debut as a lead actor in the Tamil film “Friendship” in 2021. He also had a special appearance in the Tamil movie “Dikkiloona”, and was recently seen in another Tamil film titled “Saviour.”

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Talking about his cricketing career, Harbhajan was part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup winning squads. In 103 Test matches, he picked up 417 wickets and scored 2,224 runs. He also bagged 269 wickets in 236 ODIs, contributing 1,237 runs with the bat. In T20Is, Harbhajan played 28 matches, taking 25 wickets and scoring 108 runs.

4. S Sreesanth

This Team India pacer has showcased his acting skills in multiple films across different languages. His filmography includes the Malayalam movie "Team 5," the Kannada film "Kempegowda 2," the Tamil hit "Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal," and the Hindi movies "Cabaret" and "Aksar 2."

As a cricketer, he represented India in 27 Test matches, picking up 87 wickets, along with 75 wickets in 53 ODIs and 7 wickets in 10 T20Is. Just like Harbhajan Singh, he was also part of India’s historic victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.

5. Shikhar Dhawan

This former Team India opener made a Bollywood appearance in the film “Double XL,” which also starred Huma Qureshi and Sonakshi Sinha. Known for his flamboyant batting at the top of the order, Shikhar Dhawan enjoyed a successful and exciting international career.

Particularly in ICC tournaments, Dhawan was one of India’s most consistent performers, playing key roles in many memorable victories. He was also a crucial member of India’s 2013 Champions Trophy-winning squad.

In terms of his career numbers, Dhawan played 167 ODIs, scoring 6793 runs, along with 1759 runs in 68 T20Is, and 2315 runs in 34 Test matches.

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