Lakshmipathy Balaji Was The Most Loved Cricketer In Pakistan During The 2004 Series- Ashish Nehra

Lakshmipathy Balaji may not have a long career at the International level, but he was one of those cricketers who made an everlasting impact on Indian fans in his short stint as an Indian cricket. And, there were many reasons for it. Apart from his prodigious bowling skills and his temperament, it was his smile that left the world of cricket to become his fan.

Balaji was at the peak of his powers during the historic Indian tour of Pakistan back in 2004. And, so-much-so his teammate and former Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra has revealed that even though the Men in Blue were loaded with superstars like Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and many others, it was Lakshmipathy Balaji who was the most loved cricketer in Pakistan, even eclipsing the likes of former captain and current Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for a short period.

“In the dressing room, Irfan can give you more stories, the only thing I remember is Laxmipathy Balaji on that particular tour. Maybe that time he was more popular than Imran Khan,” said Nehra in Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.

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Lakshmipathy Balaji also had a great time with the bat during the 2004 Pakistan tour

Balaji was instrumental in India winning the series decider in Rawalpindi where he claimed seven wickets but he also had some fun with the bat as he hit Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami for sixes in the ODI series.

“Those six weeks he was hitting sixes left right and center there was no doubt about it. Virender Sehwag triple hundred, Rahul Dravid double hundred, Irfan Pathan performance, all that is there but to be off the field, Pakistan, the nation as a whole and Laximathy Balaji in the dressing room,” Nehra added.

Nehra also reminisced about the hospitality laid out to the Indian team by former legend Javed Miandad.

“I still remember Javed Miandad inviting all of us to his house and that food in his house was amazing, I still remember it,” Nehra reminisced.

India, under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly, scripted history on their very first tour of Pakistan in fifteen years in 2004 when they beat the Inzamam Ul-Haq-led unit 3-2 in the ODI series before following it up with their maiden Test series win in Pakistan- 2-1.

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