"Pitch Good, Hopefully Will Win": Congress' Azharuddin On Telangana Polls

Azharuddin, who led India in 47 Tests and 174 One Day Internationals, faces a strong challenge from the incumbent lawmaker - the ruling BRS' Maganti Gopinath.

Congress leader and ex-Lok Sabha MP Mohammad Azharuddin is taking guard for the next innings in his political career - the former India cricket captain is his party's candidate for the Jubilee Hills seat in Hyderabad in this month's Telangana election. Azharuddin, who led India in 47 Tests and 174 One Day Internationals, faces a strong challenge from the incumbent lawmaker - the ruling BRS' Maganti Gopinath - but told NDTV he is confident of a good result after the state votes on November 30.

"The pitch is very good. I'm working hard and, inshallah, hopefully will prevail," he said, swatting away the challenge of his rival, whom he accused of encouraging "goondaism".

"In last nine years, no work has been done here and people are fed up, and are living in fear. He (Maganti Gopinath) only promotes 'goondaism'! Even now, his men are scaring away people working for me... they are putting fake cases with help from the police."