Kerala's Mohammed Azharuddeen creates history in Indian domestic cricket

Mohammad Azharuddin is a name every cricket fan would relate to. The former Indian cricketer was one of the most successful captains having played 99 Test matches and 334 ODIs.

But on Tuesday, in Kerala a cricketer named after Azharuddin was creating history while playing in the Ranji Trophy semi-finals against Gujarat in Ahmedabad.

Mohammed Azharuddeen became the first Kerala batter to score a century in the last-four clash of the premier domestic tournament.

His unbeaten 149 ensured Kerala reached a mammoth 418 for seven at the end of second day.

This is also Azharuddeen’s second first-class hundred. He entered the field when Kerala were struggling at 157 for four and put on a steady partnership with captain Sachin Baby and then with Salman Nizar.

Azharuddeen was born as the eighth child of BK Moidu and Nabeesa in March, 1994 in Thalangara, Kasaragod. The same time Azharuddin was captaining the Indian team in New Zealand and his parents were contemplating the name Ajmal for the newborn but their eldest son Kamaruddeen, a die-hard cricket fan, wanted his younger sibling to be named after his favourite cricketer, Mohammad Azharuddin.