Several Indian cricketers have entered politics after or during their cricket careers. Over the years, a number of well-known players have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and taken part in elections, government roles, or political activities.
Some former cricketers became Members of Parliament, while others contested state assembly elections or joined the party after retirement from cricket.
Below is a quick look at the notable cricketers who joined BJP and their political journey.
List of Cricketers Who Joined BJP
| Cricketer | Joined BJP | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chetan Chauhan | After cricket career | Former India opener; elected MP from Amroha in 1991 and 1998 |
| Kirti Azad | Joined BJP (date not specified) | Member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team |
| Gautam Gambhir | 22 March 2019 | Former India opener; MP from East Delhi |
| Ravindra Jadeja | September 2024 | India all-rounder; joined after wife Rivaba Jadeja entered politics |
| Navjot Singh Sidhu | 2004 | Former India opener and commentator |
| S. Sreesanth | 25 March 2016 | World Cup-winning fast bowler |
| Kedar Jadhav | 8 April 2025 | Former India all-rounder |
| Ashok Dinda | 2021 | Former India fast bowler; won West Bengal Assembly seat |
Chetan Chauhan
Chetan Chauhan was a former Indian cricketer known for his role as an opening batsman. After retiring from cricket, he entered politics and joined the BJP.
He was elected Member of Parliament from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh in 1991 and again in 1998 on a BJP ticket. Later, he served as a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, handling sports and youth affairs.
Chauhan was respected for his disciplined personality both on and off the cricket field. His political career focused on sports development and public service.
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Kirti Azad
Kirti Azad was part of India’s historic 1983 World Cup-winning team. After his cricket career, he entered politics and joined the BJP.
He was elected to Parliament on a BJP ticket and also served as an MLA from Delhi’s Gole Market constituency.
Later, Azad faced disagreements within the party after criticizing Arun Jaitley over issues related to the Delhi District Cricket Association. In 2019 he left BJP and joined the Indian National Congress, and later became part of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). He later won a Lok Sabha seat from Bardhaman–Durgapur in West Bengal.
Gautam Gambhir
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir joined the BJP on 22 March 2019.
He contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from East Delhi and won with a massive margin of 695,109 votes.
Gambhir served as an MP from 2019 to 2024. In March 2024, he stepped away from active politics and asked the party leadership to relieve him of political duties so he could focus on cricket-related roles again.
Ravindra Jadeja
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja joined the BJP in September 2024.
His political entry came after his wife Rivaba Jadeja, who joined the BJP in 2019 and later won the Jamnagar North seat in the Gujarat Assembly elections in 2022 by a margin of over 50,000 votes.
Jadeja’s move into politics attracted significant attention from cricket fans and political observers.
Navjot Singh Sidhu
Former India opener and television personality Navjot Singh Sidhu joined the BJP in 2004.
He won the Lok Sabha election from Amritsar as a BJP candidate. However, in 2017 Sidhu left the BJP and joined the Indian National Congress.
In Congress, he won the Amritsar East seat in Punjab and later served as Tourism and Local Bodies Minister in the Punjab government.
S. Sreesanth
Former Indian fast bowler S. Sreesanth joined the BJP on 25 March 2016.
He contested the 2016 Kerala Assembly election from Thiruvananthapuram, but he lost the election by 11,710 votes to Congress candidate V. S. Sivakumar.
Despite the loss, his entry into politics marked another example of cricketers moving into public life after their sports career.
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Kedar Jadhav
Former India all-rounder Kedar Jadhav joined the BJP on 8 April 2025 during a party office ceremony.
Jadhav had retired from all forms of cricket in June 2024. His entry into politics marks the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
Ashok Dinda
Former India fast bowler Ashok Dinda retired from cricket on 2 February 2021 and soon joined the BJP.
He contested the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election from Moyna and won with 108,109 votes. He defeated Trinamool Congress candidate Sangram Kumar Dolai by 1,260 votes.
Dinda’s victory made him one of the few former cricketers to win a state legislative election soon after entering politics.
Cricketers Moving from Sports to Politics
The transition from cricket to politics has become more common in India. Many former players use their popularity and public image to enter public service.
While some have built long political careers, others have chosen to focus again on cricket or other professional roles after a short stint in politics.
The list of cricketers entering politics continues to grow, showing the strong connection between sports popularity and public life in India.
