Ashok Dinda Transitions from Cricket to Politics as West Bengal Minister
Ashok Dinda's Political Journey
Former Indian fast bowler Ashok Dinda has successfully shifted from the cricket field to the political arena. Recently, he was among 35 MLAs from the BJP who took their oaths as ministers in the expanded cabinet of Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengal. Born on March 25, 1984, in West Bengal, Dinda gained fame as a right-arm fast bowler in both domestic and international cricket. He was a prominent figure in the domestic circuit, representing Bengal for many years. His impressive performances earned him a place in the Indian national team, where he played 9 T20Is and 13 ODIs between 2009 and 2013.
Dinda's Ministerial Role
Ashok Dinda Appointed As Minister Of State
Following the swearing-in of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and five others three weeks prior, the West Bengal BJP government welcomed 35 new ministers into its Cabinet on Monday. The swearing-in ceremony, conducted by Governor RN Ravi at Nabanna, increased the total number of ministers, including the Chief Minister, to 41. This new assembly includes 13 cabinet ministers, three Ministers of State (Independent Charge), and 19 Ministers of State (MoS). Dinda took his oath as a Minister of State.
After retiring from cricket in February 2021, Dinda entered politics by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contested for the Moyna seat in the Purba Medinipur district during the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections. His victory in this election allowed him to become a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Dinda has remained active in state politics, especially as the BJP has positioned itself as the main opposition party in West Bengal. His new role as Minister of State marks a significant step in his public career beyond cricket.
Dinda's Cricket Achievements
Dinda's Cricket Career
During his cricketing career, which spanned from 2010 to 2013, the 36-year-old Dinda played in 13 ODIs and 9 T20Is, taking 12 and 17 wickets, respectively. His domestic career was notably successful, with over 300 wickets in white-ball formats and 420 in first-class cricket. After representing Bengal for more than a decade, he later joined Goa, although his time there was cut short due to the pandemic. In the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was Goa's second-highest wicket-taker with five wickets.
In his nine T20I matches, Dinda consistently claimed at least one wicket, achieving his best figures of 4 for 19 against Sri Lanka in Kandy in 2012. Over his IPL career, he played 78 matches and took 69 wickets, maintaining an economy rate of 8.20. Dinda played for several franchises, including Delhi Daredevils, Pune Warriors, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Rising Pune Supergiants.