Navjot Singh Sidhu, a multifaceted personality, is renowned as a former cricketer, commentator, analyst, politician, and television personality. His life is a fascinating blend of sporting achievements, political involvement, and entertainment appearances.

Wiki/Biography

Born on October 20, 1963, in Patiala, Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu is 61 years old (as of 2024). He received his education at Patiala’s Yadavindra Public School and Mohindra College, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Following in his father’s footsteps, he pursued a career in cricket. At the young age of 20, he successfully auditioned for the Indian National Cricket Team.

Physical Appearance

• Height (approx.): 6′ 2″
• Hair Colour: Black
• Eye Colour: Light Brown

Family, Caste & Wife

Sidhu hails from a Jat Sikh family. His father, Late Sardar Bhagwant Singh, was a cricketer and Attorney General of Punjab. His mother’s name was Nirmal Sidhu. He had two sisters, Late Neelam Mahajan and Suman Toor. He’s married to Navjot Kaur Sidhu, a doctor and politician. They have a daughter, Rabia Sidhu, and a son, Karan Sidhu.

Career

Cricket

Sidhu’s international cricket debut was in 1983 against the West Indies, scoring only 19 runs in his first Test match. After just two Test matches, he was dropped from the team. His One-Day International debut came in the 1987 Cricket World Cup, where he impressed with a 73-run score against Australia. He followed this up with several half-centuries. His first ODI century was against Pakistan in Sharjah in 1989, and his highest ODI score was 134 runs against England in 1993. After a remarkable 18-year career spanning over 50 Test matches and over 100 ODIs, accumulating over 7,000 runs, he retired from all forms of cricket in December 1999.

In 2001, he transitioned into a career as a sports commentator, starting with “Takeshi’s Castle” and later focusing on cricket commentary. He notably returned as a commentator for the 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Politics

Sidhu joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2004, winning the Indian General Elections from Amritsar Constituency. He held this seat until 2014, then was nominated to the Rajya Sabha before resigning the same year. In 2017, he joined the Indian National Congress (INC). He served as the President of the Punjab Congress Committee before resigning and later withdrawing his resignation.

In the 2022 Punjab assembly election, he lost the Amritsar East seat to Jeevanjyot Kaur of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Entertainment

Beyond sports and politics, Sidhu has appeared in films like “ABCD 2,” “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi,” and “Mera Pind.” He was a contestant on season 6 of “Big Boss” and a regular on comedy shows like “Comedy Nights With Kapil” and “The Kapil Sharma Show”.

Controversies

Sidhu’s career has been marked by several controversies, including a 1988 road rage incident resulting in a prison sentence (later suspended), accusations of twisting religious texts, contract disputes, and criticism for his visit to Pakistan. More recently, controversial remarks about the police and claims regarding cancer treatment have added to his complex public image.

Records

• First Indian cricketer to score 5 centuries in ODIs.
• Highest ODI score of 134 runs against England.
• Three times scored 500 Test runs in a single year.
• Scored 201 runs in 1996-97 against the West Indies in an 11-hour innings.

Car Collection, Assets/Property, Net Worth/Salary

Sidhu’s car collection includes a Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Fortuner, and a Mini Cooper. He owns significant assets including movable property, commercial land, and residential plots. His net worth was estimated at ?50 crore in 2016, with an MLA salary of approximately ?1,10,000 (in 2016) plus allowances.

Favourites

• Car: Toyota Fortuner
• Opponent Cricket Team: Pakistan
• Cricket Shot: Hitting over the top
• Cricketer: Sachin Tendulkar
• Food: Chole Bhature
• Actor: Amitabh Bachchan
• Actress: Kangana Ranaut, Madhuri Dixit

Facts

Sidhu’s hobbies include internet surfing and learning. Despite being Sikh, he has deep respect for Hinduism. He’s a vegetarian and known for his meditation practice. He’s also known for his nicknames: Sixer Sidhu, Sherry, Sidhu Paaji, and Jonty Singh.

Key Milestones & Achievements

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