Former Test cricketer Vijay Bharadwaj joins BJP, says he is a 'big fan' of Narendra Modi

Updated: Monday, June 8, 2015, 15:09 [IST]

Bengaluru, June 8: Former India Test batsman R Vijay Bharadwaj began a new innings as he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The 39-year-old Bharadwaj took up the primary membership of BJP in the presence of Union Minister for chemicals and fertilisers HN Ananth Kumar, on Sunday (June 7) in Bengaluru.

Bharadwaj (left) and Ananth Kumar in Bengaluru on Sunday after the former became a member of BJP

"I am a big fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is highly inspiring. This is the reason I decided to join the party," Bharadwaj told OneIndia on Monday.

Bharadwaj, who played 3 Tests and 10 ODIs for India, is however, not decided on his future course of action in politics.

"As of now I have just taken the membership. I have not decided what to do in future," he said.

Bharadwaj, after scoring heavily in Ranji Trophy, was selected to represent India in 1999. After an impressive ODI debut series in Nairobi (Kenya), he failed to remain consistent and his short international career ended in 2002.

However, he continued to serve Karnataka cricket for a long time, till 2005. He played 95 first-class matches and scored 5,553 runs with 14 centuries. After his retirement, he was involved in coaching and also in administration at Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).

OneIndia News