Apart from cricket, the cricketers are also famous in Bollywood. The players have acted in TV Shows and Serials. Here is the list of five players, who have played a key role in TV show or movie.
Salil Ankola
The former Indian cricketer was successful on the silver screen for some time. He was part of the TV shows and even acted in the movies. Salil Ankola was appreciated for his performance in the serials and movies.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Salil Ankola |
| Date of Birth | March 1, 1968 |
| Place of Birth | Solapur, Maharashtra, India |
| Batting Style | Right-hand bat |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| International Debut | Test: 1990 vs. West Indies |
| ODI: 1990 vs. New Zealand | |
| Test Career | Matches: 1, Wickets: 3, Average: 36.33 |
| ODI Career | Matches: 20, Wickets: 29, Average: 39.89 |
| TV Shows | Show Name |
| “Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki” | |
| “Bigg Boss 1” | |
| “Chhoti Si Zindagi” |
Sunil Gavaskar
He was the first batsman to score ten thousand runs in Test cricket. The former Indian captain was a class apart when it comes to batting but he was impressive too in his acting skills. Sunil Gavaskar played a key role in Savli Premachi, a Marathi movie released in 1980.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sunil Manohar Gavaskar |
| Born | July 10, 1949, Mumbai, India |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Test Debut | March 6, 1971, vs. West Indies |
| ODI Debut | July 13, 1974, vs. England |
| Test Matches | 125 |
| ODI Matches | 108 |
| Test Runs | 10,122 |
| ODI Runs | 3,092 |
| Centuries (Tests/ODIs) | 34 (Tests), 1 (ODIs) |
| Significant Achievement | First player to reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket |
| Post-Retirement Role | Cricket Commentator, Analyst |
| TV Shows Hosted | Sunil Gavaskar Presents (cricket analysis), The Champions (talk show) |
| Authored Books | Sunny Days, Idols, Runs ‘n’ Ruins |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan (1980), Arjuna Award (1975), ICC Cricket Hall of Fame (2009) |
Navjot Singh Sidhu
He was complete opener during his playing days. Navoj Singh Sidhu was also famous for his fielding in his international career. He has participated in the reality show Big Boss 6 in 2012 and his part of a TV show Comedy Nights with Kapil on Colors channel.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cricket Career | |
| Role | Opening Batsman |
| International Debut | 1983 (ODI) vs Australia, 1983 (Test) vs West Indies |
| Last International | 1998 (ODI) vs Pakistan, 1999 (Test) vs New Zealand |
| Test Matches | 51 matches, 3202 runs, 9 centuries, 15 fifties |
| ODI Matches | 136 matches, 4413 runs, 6 centuries, 33 fifties |
| Nickname | “Sixer Sidhu” |
| Domestic Teams | Punjab |
| Major Achievements | – Key contributor in India’s 1987 and 1996 Cricket World Cup campaigns |
| – Notable for hitting sixes and performing under pressure | |
| Television Career | |
| Debut Show | Cricket Controversies |
| Comedy Shows | – The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (Judge) |
| – Comedy Nights with Kapil (Permanent Guest) | |
| Cricket Commentary | Known for his colorful phrases and unique commentary style |
| Reality Shows | – Bigg Boss 6 (Participant) |
| Political Career | – Elected Member of Parliament (MP) |
| – Held ministerial positions in Punjab | |
| Other Roles | – Motivational Speaker |
| Notable Traits | Witty, charismatic, known for his “Sidhu-isms” |
Vinod Kambli
He has acted alongside Sunil Shetty and Sanjay Dutt in a movie titled Annarth. The former player was appreciated for his acting skills but couldn’t carry on because of no offers from the production houses. Kambli was renowned for his batting in his playing days.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Vinod Ganpat Kambli |
| Born | January 18, 1972, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Batting Style | Left-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm off-break |
| Test Debut | January 29, 1993, vs England |
| ODI Debut | October 18, 1991, vs Pakistan |
| Last Test | November 27, 1995, vs New Zealand |
| Last ODI | October 29, 2000, vs Sri Lanka |
| Test Matches | 17 |
| ODI Matches | 104 |
| Test Runs | 1,084 |
| ODI Runs | 2,477 |
| Notable Performances | Back-to-back double centuries in Tests; part of record 664-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar |
| TV Appearances | Participated in reality shows like Bigg Boss and Sach Ka Saamna |
| Acting Roles | Acted in Marathi films and TV shows; appeared in Hindi films like Annarth and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas |
| Post-Cricket Career | Cricket commentator, coach, and speaker |
| Awards & Recognition | Named in Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year (1994) |
Ajay Jadeja
The former Chocolaty boy of Indian cricket was famous among the female fans for his looks. Ajay Jadeja has acted in several movies including Khel, Pal Pal Dil Ke Saat and others. He also participated in Jhalakh Dikhlaja (Session1) – a dance reality show in 2006.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ajaysinhji Daulatsinhji Jadeja |
| Born | February 1, 1971, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India |
| Batting Style | Right-hand bat |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm medium |
| International Debut | ODI Debut: February 28, 1992, vs Sri Lanka Test Debut: November 13, 1992, vs South Africa |
| Last International Match | ODI: June 3, 2000, vs Pakistan Test: December 10, 1998, vs New Zealand |
| Career Stats | Tests: 15 matches, 576 runs, Average: 26.18 ODIs: 196 matches, 5,359 runs, Average: 37.47 |
| Key Achievements | Known for his dynamic middle-order batting, exceptional fielding, and captaincy in ODIs. |
| Match-Fixing Scandal | Banned in 2000 for alleged involvement, ban lifted in 2003. |
| TV Career | – Cricket commentator and analyst – Judge on dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa |
| Acting | Featured in the Bollywood movie Khel (2003). |
| Other Ventures | Regular on sports talk shows, contributing as an expert and panelist for major cricketing events. |