Role Bowler 72 28 13.10 8.30 Batting style Right-handed | 1987/88–1997/98 Punjab 786 83 0/0 0/0 Bowling style Left-arm orthodox spin | |
Born 9 January 1967 (age 50) ( 1967-01-09 ) Ludhiana, Punjab, India | ||
Bharati Vij (born 9 January 1967) is a former Indian first-class cricketer who played for Punjab. After retirement, he became an umpire and also started a cricket academy.
Career
Vij made his first-class debut for Punjab in the 1987/88 season. He came to the limelight in 1992–93 Ranji Trophy which Punjab won, by finishing as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 49 scalps at an average of 17.55. He took 6/61 and 3/33 in the final against Maharashtra at Ludhiana, leading Punjab to a 120-run victory and their maiden Ranji title.
In the following Ranji season, Vij took 38 wickets at 14.05 including five five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls to finish as the third-highest wicket-taker. Playing for North Zone in the 1994/95 Duleep Trophy, he took most number of wickets in the tournament (20). He finished with the most wickets in the following year's Duleep Trophy as well, with 26 wickets at 24.03. He was the second highest wicket-taker in 1996–97 Ranji Trophy with 53 wickets at 20.26 including six five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls.
With the emergence of Harbhajan Singh and Navdeep Singh, the 1997/98 season turned out to be the last for Vij despite finishing as his team's leading wicket-taker in that season's Ranji Trophy.
After retirement, Vij took up umpiring. In 2000, he became an on-field umpire for club cricket matches, before becoming a first-class and List A umpire in 2008. He also worked as the spin bowling coach for Punjab.
A cricket academy was started in Chandigarh called Bharati Vij Cricket Academy.