In the world of cricket, many stories and connections go unnoticed. One such intriguing link involves Indian cricket star Virat Kohli and Tejashwi Yadav, former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. While many are aware of Kohli’s illustrious career, few know that he once played under Tejashwi’s captaincy during their formative years in cricket. Recently, Tejashwi himself shed light on this little-known aspect of their shared cricketing past.
The Early Days of Tejashwi Yadav’s Cricket Career
Tejashwi Yadav, the son of prominent politician Lalu Yadav, ventured into the cricketing world when his father served as the Railway Minister in the Indian government. Navigating through Delhi’s competitive cricket scene, he became part of the Delhi Daredevils in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. However, Tejashwi’s journey in cricket was short-lived, culminating in 2010 when he shifted his focus toward a career in politics.
Tejashwi’s Connection with Virat Kohli
In a recent interview, 34-year-old Tejashwi expressed his frustration over the neglect of his cricketing background, highlighting his role during Kohli’s early days. Both athletes played together in Delhi’s Under-15 and Under-19 teams, where Tejashwi had the honor of captaining the squad for a period. The significance of this relationship became evident when Tejashwi reminisced about their time together, reinforcing his point with a nostalgic tweet from a decade ago alongside a photograph featuring himself and Kohli.
I Kw @imVkohli Virat since Under-15 days, has played a lot with him, very determined & confident guy, would bounce back surely pic.twitter.com/AeUcCl4kyn
—Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) October 10, 2014
The Untimely End of a Cricketing Career
Despite his promising beginnings, Tejashwi’s cricket career faced obstacles that hindered his progression. After not getting a single opportunity to play in the IPL or for Delhi’s senior cricket team, he moved on to the Jharkhand Cricket Association. In his brief stint, he managed to play just seven matches across all formats, accumulating only 37 runs—a stark contrast to the tremendous innings he could have delivered. The toll of persistent knee ligament injuries ultimately forced Tejashwi to hang up his cricketing boots, with his last game played in 2010 where he scored five runs and took one wicket.
Transition to Politics
After stepping away from cricket, Tejashwi Yadav carved a path in politics, emerging as a significant leader in the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), following in the footsteps of his father and mother. His political career has seen him rise rapidly, becoming the youngest Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and the youngest leader of the opposition in the state assembly. Looking ahead, with Bihar assembly elections approaching next year, Tejashwi is poised to lead his party once again, showcasing his versatility and commitment to public service.
