| Bharati Vij | |
| Country: | India |
| Birth Date: | 9 January 1967 |
| Birth Place: | Ludhiana, Punjab, India |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| Role: | Bowler |
| Club1: | Punjab |
| Year1: | 1987/88–1997/98 |
| Columns: | 2 |
| Column1: | FC |
| Matches1: | 72 |
| Runs1: | 786 |
| Bat Avg1: | 13.10 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/0 |
| Top Score1: | 42 |
| Deliveries1: | 17,724 |
| Wickets1: | 319 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 23.41 |
| Fivefor1: | 24 |
| Tenfor1: | 8 |
| Best Bowling1: | 7/27 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 32/– |
| Column2: | List A |
| Matches2: | 28 |
| Runs2: | 83 |
| Bat Avg2: | 8.30 |
| 100S/50S2: | 0/0 |
| Top Score2: | 14 |
| Deliveries2: | 1,557 |
| Wickets2: | 45 |
| Bowl Avg2: | 19.35 |
| Fivefor2: | 0 |
| Tenfor2: | n/a |
| Best Bowling2: | 4/29 |
| Catches/Stumpings2: | 4/– |
| Date: | 1 January |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/35796.html ESPNcricinfo |
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.
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.[1] 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.[2]
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.[3] Playing for North Zone in the 1994/95 Duleep Trophy, he took most number of wickets in the tournament (20).[4] He finished with the most wickets in the following year's Duleep Trophy as well, with 26 wickets at 24.03.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7]
After retirement, Vij took up umpiring. In 2000, he became an on-field umpire for club cricket matches,[8] before becoming a first-class and List A umpire in 2008.[9] He also worked as the spin bowling coach for Punjab.[10]
A cricket academy was started in Chandigarh called Bharati Vij Cricket Academy.