Cricket is the most loved sport in India, and Uttar Pradesh is one of the states that have contributed significantly to Indian cricket. Over the years, the state has produced some of the best cricketers who have represented the Indian Cricket Team at the international level. In this article, we will discuss the seven best cricketers from Uttar Pradesh who have made their mark on the Indian cricketing scene.
Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif is one of the most successful cricketers from Uttar Pradesh who played for the Indian Cricket Team. He was born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, on December 1, 1980. He was a right-handed batsman and an exceptional fielder. Kaif was a vital member of the Indian team that won the NatWest Trophy in 2002. His unbeaten innings of 87 runs in the final against England helped India clinch the title.
Kaif played 125 ODI matches for India and scored 2,753 runs with an average of 32.01. He also played 13 Test matches for India, scoring 624 runs with an average of 32.84. He retired from international cricket in 2006 and later played domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina is one of the most successful cricketers from Uttar Pradesh, and he has represented the Indian Cricket Team in all three formats of the game. He was born in Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh, on November 27, 1986. Raina is a left-handed batsman and a handy bowler who can bowl off-spin.
Raina is known for his aggressive style of batting, and he has scored over 7,500 runs in international cricket. He has played 18 Test matches for India, scoring 768 runs with an average of 26.48. In ODIs, he has scored 5,615 runs with an average of 35.31 and has also taken 36 wickets. Raina has played 78 T20I matches for India and has scored 1,605 runs with an average of 29.18.
Also read: 10 Interesting Facts About Suresh Raina we bet you didn’t know
Praveen Kumar
Praveen Kumar is a former Indian cricketer who played as a right-arm medium-fast bowler. He was born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on October 2, 1986. Praveen was known for his swing bowling, and he could make the ball move both ways.
Praveen played 68 international matches for India, taking 112 wickets. He played 50 ODIs for India, taking 77 wickets with an economy rate of 4.95. He also played six Test matches for India, taking 27 wickets with an economy rate of 3.19. Praveen retired from international cricket in 2012 but continued to play domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh.