Editing Mohammad Azharuddin (section)

==Early life==
Azharuddin was born on 8 February 1963 in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] to Mohammad Azizuddin and Yousuf Sultana. He attended [[All Saints High School, Hyderabad|All Saints High School]] and graduated from [[Nizam College]], [[Osmania University]], with a [[Bachelor of Commerce]] degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.azhar.co/biography.html|title=Biography of Azhar|work=azhar.co.in|access-date=12 May 2016}}</ref>

Azharuddin recalled that his maternal uncle Mir Zainulabiddin "who captained the Osmania University inspired [him] to take to cricket".<ref name="IT1">{{cite web |last1=Menon |first1=Amarnath K. |title=Hyderabad batsman Mohammad Azharuddin rises as new batting sensation |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/19850228-hyderabad-batsman-mohammad-azharuddin-rises-as-new-batting-sensation-769834-2013-11-26 |website=India Today |access-date=10 May 2025 |language=en |date=February 1985}}</ref> Additionally, one Brother K. M. Joseph of the All Saints High School<ref name="IT1"/> played a role in inculcating the passion for cricket in him.<ref name="ESPNcricinfo1">{{cite web |title=Cricketers of the year: Mohammad Azharuddin |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/mohammad-azharuddin-154427 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> This was around 1973. Starting the 1977 season, Azharuddin was part of his high school team playing in the Hyderabad cricket league. He would subsequently play for the Deccan Blues team before going on to represent Osmania University in inter-university tournaments.<ref name="IT1"/>

Azharuddin began as a [[Seam bowling|seam bowler]] before progressing quickly to bat at number three, besides being the third seamer, for Hyderabad Schools in the South Zone Schools against the visiting English Schools side.<ref name="ESPNcricinfo1"/> He made his [[First class cricket|first-class]] debut aged 18 in the [[Ranji Trophy]] in its [[1981–82 Ranji Trophy|1981–82 season]] playing for [[Hyderabad cricket team|Hyderabad]]. In the 1982–83 and 1983–84 domestic seasons, Azharuddin scored 2,648 and 2,499 runs respectively.<ref name="IT1"/> His performances received recognition when he scored a double-century in the [[Duleep Trophy]] in January 1984, playing for [[South Zone cricket team|South Zone]].<ref name="ESPNcricinfo1"/> In December that year, he scored centuries in both innings of [[1984–85 Ranji Trophy|the Ranji Trophy]] match against [[Andhra cricket team|Andhra]].<ref name="IT1"/> In the same month, he earned a Test callup, against [[English cricket team in India and Sri Lanka in 1984–85|the visiting English side]] as a replacement to [[Sandeep Patil]], in the Third Test of the series to be played at the [[Eden Gardens]] in [[Calcutta]].<ref name="ESPNcricinfo1"/>