Interesting facts about Navjot Singh Sidhu, the cricketer-turned-politician

New Delhi: There are people who are blessed with the proverbial' gift of the gab'. BJP leader and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu is definitely one of them. He is known for his catchy one-liners, entertaining couplets and his ability to speak non-stop on matters close to his heart. He has been one of the top-ranking cricket commentators and appears regularly on comedy shows of many TV channels.Presently, a BJP MP from Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency, Sidhu is a former cricketer and represented India in Tests and ODIs from 1983 to 1999. Along with Nitin gadkari, he has been recently appointed as co-incharge of Delhi unit of BJP.Let's have a look at some of the interesting facts about Navjot Singh Sidhu:Sidhu was born on 20 October, 1963 in a Sikh family of Patiala, Punjab. He represented India in international cricket from 1983 to 1999. He played in 51 Tests and 136 ODIs. As noted Cricket journalist Rajan Bala put it, Sidhu transformed himself from a 'strokless wonder' to a 'Palm-Grove Hitter' with sheer hard work, dedication and sincerity.The initial days of his cricketing career were loosely action-packed. In his international debut in 1983 he struggled with his performance and managed to score only 19 runs against West Indies.After somehow managing to score 73 runs against Australia, he was elected in the 1987 Indian World Cup Team.His performance in World Cup matches was not something that could have kept the spectators glued to their seats. But then came a point from where the cricketer in Sidhu came out in open. His first ODI century came in the year 1989 against Pakistan.Sidhu played a fantabulous innings against England in 1993 and scored 134 which later became his highest ODI score and Sidhu himself rated it as the best innings of his career. He became the first ever Indian batsman to score more than 5 centuries in ODIs.He scored 201 runs against West Indies which is considered to be the finest game ever played by Sidhu in his entire career. Grabbing over 7000 runs in over 100 ODIs and 27 centuries in his 18-years of cricketing career, Sidhu announced his retirement from international cricket in 1999.With immense knowledge of the game, he used his skills as a commentator and became popular for his one-liners which later came to be known as ‘Sidhuisms'. Over a period of time his commentary became a treat for his audience.In 2004, he entered politics and won Amritsar Lok Sabha seat representing BJP. Sidhu's alleged involvement in Gurnam Singh's murder led to his resignation but the eclipse on his political career was short-lived.The ruling in the case was stayed and he contested elections again. He was reelected from Amritsar seat in 2007 by-elections.In 2009 general elections he won from Amritsar seat defeating Congress representative Om Prakash Soni with a margin of 6858 votes.Sidhu made a special appearance in the film Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. He has also acted in a Punjabi movie ‘Mera Pind'.In 2012 he was a contestant in a reality show Bigg Boss 6. But he left show midway for campaigning for the party in assembly elections.Sidhu is a pure vegetarian.He is married to Navjot Kaur Sidhu a doctor and a member of Punjab Legislative Assembly. They have a son named Karan and a daughter named Rabia.Accoding to some media reports, in upcoming 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Sidhu wants to try his luck from Sikh dominated Delhi(West) Lok Sabha constituency. Let's have a look at some of the most interesting pics of Sidhu: