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Former BCCI president and current BJP MP Anurag Thakur playing cricket (Photograph: X)
Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Anurag Thakur left former India star Yusuf Pathan impressed with his batting talents. In a video doing the rounds, there was an exhibition match being played between Neta XI vs Abhineta XI (Politicians XI vs Actors XI).
Watch the video here -
Whenβs the next IPL auction?
β Politics Pe Charcha (@politicscharcha) March 26, 2025
Teams should definitely bid for Anurag Thakur
This is a pro level batting π₯ pic.twitter.com/v8VsnD4dAN
Saqib Saleem was bowling to Anurag Thakur and the latter produced a powerful cut that went for a huge six. Anurag Thakur is currently a sitting Member of Parliament as an elected representative from the Hamirpur constituency, from Himachal Pradesh. Thakur also served as the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting.
The 50-year-old was also the Union minister for Youth affairs and sports. Apart from his political and sporting stints, Mr. Thakur is also serving the territorial army since 2016. His most noted role in sports came when he was the president of BCCI for two years before he the Committee of Administrators took over.
Anurag Thakur’s cricketing journey
At the age of 26, Anurag Thakur made his Ranji Trophy debut for Himachal Pradesh against Jammu and Kashmir. That was the only game Thakur ever played in the Ranji Trophy format. With the bat, Thakur was out for a duck after facing seven balls as HP scored 316 for nine declared in their first innings.
BJP’s parliamentarian took two wickets with the ball to dismiss Gurupartap Singh for 22 and J and K skipper Abdul Qayoom for 16. Thakur bowled a total of five overs with one maiden over and gave away 18 runs for his two wickets as Jammu and Kashmir scored 176 in their first innings. In the second innings declared with their score on 110 and set J and K a target of 251. Jammu and Kashmir won the game by four wickets with Thakur going wicketless for 31 runs from his four overs.
It was during his stint as the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association chief that the current stadium in Dharamshala was developed. Thakur soon moved to BCCI where he ultimately became the president before the Lodha Committee’s suggested reforms came into place.