S. Sreesanth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
S. Sreesanth

Personal information
Full name	Shanthakumaran Nair Sreesanth
Born	(1983-02-06) 6 February 1983 (age 42) Kothamangalam, Kerala, India
Nickname	Sree, Gopu
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm fast-medium
Role	Bowler
Relations	Madhu Balakrishnan (brother-in-law)
International information
National side	India (2005–2011)
Test debut (cap 253)	1 March 2006 v England
Last Test	18 August 2011 v England
ODI debut (cap 162)	25 October 2005 v Sri Lanka
Last ODI	2 April 2011 v Sri Lanka
ODI shirt no.	36
T20I debut (cap 10)	1 December 2006 v South Africa
Last T20I	1 February 2008 v Australia
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2002/03-2021/22	Kerala
2008–2010	Kings XI Punjab
2009	Warwickshire
2011	Kochi Tuskers Kerala
2013	Rajasthan Royals
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC Matches 27 53 10 74 Runs scored 284 44 20 680 Batting average 10.40 4.00 20.00 9.71 100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 Top score 35 10* 19* 35 Balls bowled 5,419 2,476 204 13,182 Wickets 87 75 7 213 Bowling average 37.59 33.44 41.14 35.92 5 wickets in innings 3 1 0 6 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0 Best bowling 5/40 6/55 2/12 5/40 Catches/stumpings 5/– 7/– 2/– 16/–
Medal record Men's Cricket Representing  India ICC Cricket World Cup Winner 2011 India-Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ICC T20 World Cup Winner 2007 South Africa ACC Asia Cup Runner-up 2008 Pakistan
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 22 February 2021

Shanthakumaran Nair Sreesanth (born on February 6, 1983) is a former Indian cricketer and film actor. He played all types of cricket for India. Sreesanth was a right-arm fast-medium bowler and a right-handed batsman.

In first class cricket, he played for the Kerala cricket team. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he played for the Rajasthan Royals. He was the first Kerala Ranji player to play Twenty20 cricket for India. Sreesanth was banned from cricket for a period after allegations related to the 2013 IPL. However, his ban was reduced to seven years in August 2019.

In 2018, he was a contestant on the popular reality show Bigg Boss and finished as the runner-up. In 2020, he joined the Kerala cricket team again and continued his national cricket career. Sreesanth announced his retirement from domestic cricket in March 2022. He was part of the Indian teams that won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 Cricket World Cup. In the 2007 final, he took the catch that won the tournament.

Sreesanth's Early Life

Sreesanth was born on February 6, 1983. His parents are Santhakumaran Nair and Savithri Devi. He has an older brother and two older sisters. His brother, Dipu Santhan, owns a music company in Kochi. His oldest sister, Nivedita, is a TV actress in Kerala. Sreesanth's older sister, Divya, is married to Madhu Balakrishnan, a famous South Indian singer.

On December 12, 2013, Sreesanth married Bhuvneshwari Kumari. She is from Jaipur's Shekhawat family. Their wedding took place at the Guruvayur Sri Krishna temple in Kerala.

Starting His Cricket Journey

When he was a child, Sreesanth started as a leg-spinner. He tried to bowl like Anil Kumble, who later became his Test captain. But his older brother encouraged him to become a fast bowler because he was good at bowling yorkers.

Sreesanth joined the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. He made his first-class debut in the 2002–03 season against Goa. He took 22 wickets in seven matches in the Ranji Trophy. This led to him being chosen for the South Zone in the Duleep Trophy that same season.

In November 2004, Sreesanth made history by taking a hat-trick against Himachal Pradesh in a Ranji Trophy game. He was chosen to play for India B in the Challenger Trophy in October 2005. He played very well in this tournament, winning the Man of the Series award. He was the top wicket-taker with 7 wickets. This performance helped him get selected for the Indian team to play against Sri Lanka.

Playing for India: ODIs

Sreesanth got to bowl with the new ball in his first One Day International (ODI) match against Sri Lanka in Nagpur. He took his first two ODI wickets in that match. He was later called back to play in more matches.

In April 2006, he had a great series against the England at home. He took 10 wickets and had his best bowling figures of 6/55 in the final match in Indore. He was named man of the match for this performance. Because of his good play, he received a contract from the BCCI.

Sreesanth was part of the Indian team for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. He played in the first game and also in the final.

Playing for India: Test Matches

Sreesanth at an event in 2012.

Sreesanth was chosen for his first Test team in March 2006 against England. He took 4/95 in his first Test match in Nagpur. He later took five wickets in the Third Test in Mumbai. Sreesanth became India's main fast bowler during the tour of the West Indies. He took his best match figures of 5/72 in the 4th Test in Kingston, Jamaica.

One of his most important performances was in the first Test of India's 2006 tour to South Africa in Johannesburg. He took 5–40, which helped India win their first match on South African soil. He was named man of the match for this.

Sreesanth is known for his passionate way of playing. During a match against André Nel, Sreesanth hit a six and then celebrated with a dance. He later said he would not do it again to avoid problems. He was also fined for some on-field actions.

After being out of the Indian team for about a year and a half, Sreesanth returned for the Test series against Sri Lanka in November 2009. He played in the second Test in Kanpur and took five wickets in the first innings. India won the match, and Sreesanth was named Man of the Match for taking six wickets in total. The Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, praised him for his bowling skills.

Sreesanth playing for India against Somerset in 2011.

Winning the 2007 T20 World Cup

In September 2007, Sreesanth joined the Indian team for the first ICC T-20 World Cup in South Africa. He took important wickets at key moments that helped his team win. In the semifinal match against Australia, Sreesanth took the crucial wickets of Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden. This helped India win the match.

In the final against Pakistan, Sreesanth took the catch that won the tournament. He caught Misbah-Ul-Haq while standing at fine leg, securing the victory for India.

Playing in English County Cricket

In August 2009, Sreesanth signed a deal to play for Warwickshire for the rest of the English season. He played five matches and took 13 wickets, including five wickets in one match against Yorkshire.

Indian Premier League Journey

Sreesanth played for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the first IPL season in 2008, he was the second-highest wicket-taker, with 18 wickets. He later played for Kochi in 2011.

On-field Incident with Harbhajan Singh

In April 2008, after a match between his Kings XI Punjab team and the Mumbai Indians, an incident occurred between Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh. Sreesanth was seen crying on TV cameras. He later said he had no complaints against Harbhajan, calling him "like an elder brother." The IPL banned Harbhajan from the rest of the tournament. The BCCI also banned Harbhajan for five ODI matches.

Spot-Fixing Allegations and Ban

In May 2013, Sreesanth and two of his Rajasthan Royals teammates were arrested on allegations of spot-fixing during the IPL 6. Sreesanth has always said he is innocent and that he was forced to sign statements.

His contracts with Rajasthan Royals were stopped while investigations were ongoing. In September 2013, Sreesanth was banned for life by the BCCI. However, in July 2015, he was found not guilty in the spot-fixing case.

In March 2019, the Supreme Court of India asked the BCCI to "reconsider" his life ban. The BCCI then reduced his ban to seven years. This meant he could play cricket again from September 13, 2020.

Return to Cricket

After his ban ended on September 13, 2020, Sreesanth said he would do "everything possible to get back on the field." He was chosen for the Kerala Team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2021. He played his first match after the ban in January 2021. On March 9, 2022, Sreesanth announced his retirement from domestic cricket.

Sreesanth's Name

There has been some confusion about Sreesanth's full name in the media. He has been called different names like "Sree Sreesanth" or "Shantha Sreesanth."

In September 2007, Sreesanth clarified that his name is simply "Sreesanth." He said, "It's Sreesanth. There is no Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, there is no S. Sreesanth. It's just Sreesanth."

Film and Television Career

Sreesanth has also worked as an actor in films and on television shows.

Film Appearances

Television Shows

Sreesanth has been a part of several reality and game shows on television.

Political Involvement

On March 25, 2016, Sreesanth joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He ran in the Kerala Assembly elections from Thiruvananthapuram but did not win. He received 34,764 votes but lost to VS Sivakumar.

Images for kids

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  Sreesanth playing for India against Somerset in 2011.

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  Sreesanth at an event in 2012.