Happy Birthday Lakshmipathy Balaji
Picked up 75 wickets in 71 IPL matches
Lakshmipathy Balaji is an Indian cricket coach and a former player. He was born on September 27, 1981. He is a medium-fast right-arm bowler. In November 2016, he declared his retirement from first-class and List A cricket. His former Indian Premier League team, Chennai Super Kings, currently employs him as their bowling coach.
His Cricket Life
Today marks the 41st birthday of former Indian bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji. Balaji, also known as the “smiling assassin,” was one of India’s most important fast bowlers during the 2000s. The lanky bowler, who was a native of Tamil Nadu, dazzled batsmen with his accuracy and surprising outswingers.
During his career as a cricketer. Balaji contributed significantly to teams in the Indian Premier League including the Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Against the West Indies in 2002, Balaji received his maiden call-up to the Indian team, and he later competed for his nation in 43 games of all types.
76 wickets were scalped overall Balaji contributed significantly to Indian Premier League teams like the Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Balaji was appointed as the player-coach for the Tamil Nadu team in his final Ranji Trophy campaign in 2015. He had a key role in developing emerging Indian talents like Vijay Shankar, Kaushik Gandhi, and Jagannathan Koushik despite Tamil Nadu having a mediocre season in India’s premier domestic competition. Later, Shankar represented India at a higher level.
As a member of Chennai Super Kings in the first IPL season (2008), the tall and lanky bowler cemented his place in IPL history by recording the tournament’s first hat-trick (CSK)
Key Stats:
5/76 vs Pakistan in 2005
4/48 vs Australia in 2004
4/63 vs Pakistan in 2004
3/22 vs Pakistan in 2012
3/37 vs South Africa in 2012
In 2016, Balaji announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, and in 2017, he began a new path in coaching and mentoring future quick bowlers.
Coach of Kolkata Knight Riders
From 2011 to 2013, Balaji was a crucial component of KKR’s bowling attack. A key component of the team’s successful marketing campaign in 2012. He was chosen to replace Pakistani great Wasim Akram. As the bowling coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2017 Indian Premier League. Balaji played a key role in helping KKR advance to the IPL playoffs by coaching players like Trent Boult, Umesh Yadav, and others.
Coach of Chennai Super Kings
Balaji made a significant contribution during his first season with the Chennai-based team due to the unit’s excellent bowling performance. Under his guidance, emerging Indian sensations like Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur, who stood out for Chennai and later represented India, began to gain popularity.
Let’s wish Lakshmipathy Balaji a Happy birthday, pray for his health, and send him our best wishes for the future on this wonderful day.
