There has always been a great connection between cricket and cinema in India, as many cricketers have attempted to try their hands at the silver screen. While some had short assignments in acting, others made significant contributions with films and television. From World Cup heroes to fast bowlers, almost all players crossed over from the pitch to the big screen. Here's a look at Indian cricketers who ventured into the world of entertainment once they left the sports field. 

1. Salil Ankola (India)
Represented India as a fast bowler in the late 1980s.
Quit cricket due to injuries and entered the film world.
Acted in Bollywood films such as Kurukshetra (2000) and Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne (2003).
He also had a good career in television with shows like Karam Apnaa Apnaa and CID.
2. Yograj Singh (India)
Ex-Indian fast bowler and father of Yuvraj Singh.
Quit cricket after a short international career.
Became a well-known actor, mostly in Punjabi films.
Featured in Bollywood movies like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) and Singh is Bling (2015).
3. Sandeep Patil (India)
Hero of India's 1983 World Cup-winning team.
Quit cricket and acted in Kabhi Ajnabi The (1985), a Bollywood film.
The movie bombed, and he turned to coaching and cricket administration.
4. Syed Kirmani (India)
India's 1983 World Cup-winning wicketkeeper.
Acted in Kabhi Ajnabi The (1985) along with Sandeep Patil.
Left acting and pursued cricket administration only.
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5.Salim Durani
A dashing Indian all-rounder known for his ability to hit sixes.
Featured in India's historic Test match victory against England in 1971.
He quit cricketing and acted in "Charitra" (1973) opposite Parveen Babi
Did not carry on his film career actively
6. Ajay Jadeja
Former Indian cricketer who was quite a batsman and fielder.
Involved in a spot-fixing case, which landed him a suspended cricket ban.
Made his Bollywood debut in "Khel" (2003) along with Sunny Deol and Suniel Shetty.
He also featured in "Pal Pal Dil Ke Ssaat" (2009), but acting did not continue.
7. S. Sreesanth
Indian fast bowler known for his aggression and swing bowling.
A life ban was served for IPL spot-fixing, although reduced later.
Created a career for himself in Bollywood with films such as "Aksar 2" (2017) and "Cabaret" (2019).
Featured in South Indian film fraternity and took part in reality shows like Bigg Boss 12.
8. Kirti Azad
He was a member of the squad that won India the 1983 World Cup.
Featured in "Kabhie Ajnabi The" (1985).
Did not continue acting and later became a politician.

Yograj Singh, the father of former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, has often criticized MS Dhoni in the past. He accused Dhoni of sidelining his son during the latter years of Yuvraj’s career and even compared it to how Kapil Dev allegedly treated him during his time as a player. Yograj believed that after Yuvraj recovered from cancer, he could have played for a few more years, but Dhoni and later Virat Kohli did not give him that opportunity.

Read Also: Yograj Singh Took a Pistol to Confront Kapil Dev

However, in a recent interview on the YouTube channel Unfiltered by Samdish, Yograj surprised many by praising Dhoni. He highlighted Dhoni’s fearless nature and leadership qualities. Sharing an example from a match in Australia, he said,

“What I liked the most about him was that he was a fearless man. If you remember, he was hit on the grill by Mitchell Johnson, and he didn’t move an inch. The very next ball, he pulled him for a six. There are very few people like him.”

Yograj also acknowledged Dhoni’s ability as a captain, saying,

“I find Dhoni to be a very motivated leader who knew how to guide his team. The best thing about him was that he could read the pitch and advise bowlers where to bowl.”

This is one of the rare occasions where Yograj has spoken positively about Dhoni, contrasting with his earlier statements blaming Dhoni for Yuvraj’s premature exit from the team.

I like dhoni, he was fearless: Yograj Singh pic.twitter.com/GDvmYKWc3Y

— GUY (@OLDTWEETGUY) January 12, 2025

In this interview on Unfiltered by Samdish, Yograj Singh shared many surprising insights about his cricketing journey, his strained relationship with Kapil Dev, and his bond with his son, Yuvraj Singh. He discussed the politics he faced as a cricketer and how similar struggles impacted Yuvraj’s career.

Currently, 66-year-old Yograj Singh runs a cricket academy in Chandigarh under his name, where he trains aspiring cricketers. Known for his strict and disciplined coaching style, he focuses on building strong personalities and shaping young talent into skilled players with a tough and determined mindset.

Read Also : Captain Rohit Sharma Travels to Pakistan?

Yograj Singh, a fast bowler in the 1980s, played 1 Test match and 6 ODIs for India. However, he ended his career early, saying there was politics in the team. He claimed that some teammates in leadership roles made things difficult for him, which forced him to leave cricket sooner than he wanted.

Yograj Singh, the former Indian cricketer and father of Yuvraj Singh, has always been known for his boldness and outspoken nature. In a recent interview on the YouTube channel Unfiltered with Samdish, Yograj made shocking revelations about his cricket career, including his troubled relationships with Kapil Dev and Bishan Singh Bedi.

Yograj claimed that Kapil Dev, during his captaincy of India, North Zone, and Haryana, played a significant role in ending his cricketing career. He shared how Kapil dropped him from the Indian team and the North Zone squad without any reason, which marked the end of his international cricket journey. Yograj’s career consisted of only one Test match and six ODIs. The disappointment led him to step away from the sport entirely.

Read Also: Captain Rohit Sharma Travels to Pakistan?

In the interview, Yograj shares a shocking incident from that time. He revealed how his anger over being dropped drove him to confront Kapil Dev with a pistol in hand. Yograj said:

"When Kapil Dev became captain of India, North Zone, and Haryana, he dropped me without reason. My wife urged me to question him, but I told her I would teach him a lesson. I took my pistol and went to his house. Kapil came out with his mother, and I told him, ‘Because of you, I have lost a friend. You will pay for what you’ve done. I want to put a bullet through your head, but I won’t because of your pious mother standing here.’"

Yograj blamed his wife for influencing his actions during that time, saying women could disrupt a man’s life if given power. He remarked:

"Wife will destroy your house if you give her power. Sorry to say, Indira Gandhi ran this country and destroyed it. Give them respect and love, but never give them power."

He also blamed Bishan Singh Bedi for the politics he faced in his career, stating in an interview.

'I never forgave Bishan Singh Bedi. The man died on his bed.'

In the interview, Yograj Singh revealed that after India’s 2011 World Cup victory, he proudly sent newspaper clippings to Kapil Dev, saying Yuvraj performed better than him. Kapil responded with an emotional message, expressing a wish to be brothers in the next life and asking for an apology. However, Yograj admitted he still felt a sense of hurt and vengeance.

Yograj Singh, the former Indian cricketer and the father of legendary Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, is always in the news for his controversial comments. There were many times when Yograj took the limelight for his negative and sensational statements.

On Sunday (January 12), Yograj Singh was in the news for his comments about Indian women and Kapil Dev. First, he negatively talked about women’s power. 

Yograj said, “Wife will destroy your house if you give her power. Sorry to say, Indira Gandhi ran this country and destroyed it. Give them respect and love, but never give them power.”

Then, the former right-arm fast-medium pacer, revealed he went to the former World Cup-winning (1983) captain Kapil Dev’s house with a gun. 

Yograj said, “I went to Kapil Dev’s house to put a bullet through his head. But when he came out with his mother, I couldn’t go through with it.”

It wasn’t the first time when Yograj made negative comments on Kapil Dev. He previously said, “I had told Kapil that I would leave you in a position where the entire world would curse you. Yuvraj has 13 trophies, and you just have one World Cup to show.”

See Also: Yuvraj Singh's father Yograj Singh speaks out on Rohit Sharma

#ArrsetYograjSingh trend

Previously, Yograj was a media sensation for his degrading comments during the farmer protest, which triggered many social media users to run the hashtag trend #ArrsetYograjSingh.

Yograj commented, “Yeh woh log hai jinhone hamare saath gaddari ki hai, yeh woh kaum hai jinhone hazaron saal gulami ki 5000, 7000 saal." (these are those people who have betrayed us, this community has been slaves for thousands of years).

Yograj Singh against MS Dhoni

Yograj Singh is popularly known for negative comments about the former Indian captain MS Dhoni, under whose captaincy India won the ICC World T20 2007, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, and ICC Champions Trophy 2013. 

Some of Yograj’s comments against Dhoni were as follows:

“MS Dhoni should look in the mirror. He destroyed my son’s career, and I won’t forgive him. I have never forgotten those who have worked against me, be it my family members or my kids.”

(Regarding the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Final batting position change, and comparing with the Quarter-final situation) “In the 2011 final, Yuvraj was going to bat but Dhoni stopped him and went to bat and became a hero. Why didn't he bat at No. 4 this time? Why did he go at No. 6? If he considers himself great, then he should have batted at No. 6 and guided India to a win against the Aussies.”

“Dhoni was nothing. He has become a God in cricket just because of media.”

“Dhoni is arrogant. The way Ravana's pride came to an end, Dhoni will also suffer some day. He considers himself much above Ravana.”

“There will be a day when Dhoni will be left to beg and become penniless and would not get any favour.”

“Honestly, if I were a media person, I would have slapped Dhoni right there.” 

Yuvraj Singh's father and former cricketer, Yograj Singh, is well-known for his bold personality and outspoken nature. He has never hesitated to share his thoughts on cricket and its players, often offering strong opinions. Recently, Yograj spoke out about the current situation of the Indian cricket team, particularly focusing on the performances of senior players and the overall poor form of the team.

The focus of much of the discussion has been on Rohit Sharma, especially during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 final and the fifth Test in Sydney. Despite being the captain of the team, Rohit Sharma made the difficult decision to step down from the playing XI due to his poor form. In five innings, Rohit scored only 31 runs, which led many to believe that the coach and selectors had forced him to make the decision. However, Rohit later clarified in an interview that he was not dropped by anyone. Instead, he chose to step aside for the betterment of the team, wanting to give others a chance to perform.

This decision sparked a lot of debate, with many questioning whether it was time for Rohit to be dropped from the team or even retire. Amid these discussions, Yograj Singh came forward to express his support for Rohit. When a reporter asked if it was time for Rohit to say goodbye to cricket, Yograj strongly opposed the idea. He firmly believed that it is wrong to let down players when they are struggling. Instead, he argued, players need support, especially during difficult times.

Read Also:Gautam Gambhir Likely to Step Down as India Head Coach Due to Poor Team Performance and Player Concerns

Yograj pointed out that in Indian cricket culture, players are often praised when they perform well, but as soon as they go through a tough phase, they are criticized and let down. He gave the example of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who also went through rough patches in his career but fought back and proved his worth. Yograj stressed that rather than criticizing players when they are facing difficulties, it is important to support them and show faith in their abilities.

Yuvraj Singh father Yograj Singh on Rohit Sharma❤️
When he said: Aaj rohit ko support ki jarurat hai but humlog to usse niche fekh rahe hai🥹
My respect for him 📈

pic.twitter.com/bkbg3i0ASn

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__18) January 4, 2025

Yograj Singh, who played six ODIs and one Test for India as a fast bowler, has always been known for his bold opinions and fearless statements. However, in this instance, his message was one of belief and encouragement for the Indian cricket team. He expressed hope for the team’s future, despite their current struggles in Australia.