India cricketer Yashpal Sharma, who was part of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad died on Tuesday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. The 66-year-old is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
The middle-order batsman, who was known for his batting prowess, collapsed at home after returning from his morning walk. He was later cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium with his former teammate Kirti Azad among others in attendance.
India were led to the World Cup glory by former captain Kapil Dev in 1983, a day which will forever remain etched in the memory of the Indian population.
Soon after Yashpal died, condolences started pouring in and video of his semi-final knock against England started doing the round.
Watch the video here:
In the match, India chased down the target of 213 with 32 balls remaining and registered a six-wicket win against England. Yashpal Sharma, during his stay in the middle, scored 61 off 115 balls. With a strike rate of 53.04, he hit three boundaries and two sixes.
He was ably supported by Mohinder Amarnath 92 in 46 balls. His innings was laced with four boundaries and one solitary six. He displayed a strike rate of 50.00.
According to PTI, Dilip Vengsarkar couldn’t believe that the “fittest” among the class of 1983 died so soon, while Kapil Dev simply broke down.
Kapil, who captained that history-making squad, was in tears when PTI contacted him and could only say, “I won’t be able to speak.”
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“It is unbelievable. He was the fittest among all of us. I had asked him that day when we met how about his routine. He was a vegetarian, teetotaller, used to have soup for his dinner and very particular about his morning walks. I am just shocked,” former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar told PTI.
Former pacer Balwinder Singh Sandhu, who was a part of that team, said he is heartbroken in a choked voice.
Kirti Azad, another member of the 1983 team, also paid tributes to his former teammate.
“He told me that day we met that I had lost weight. We had a great reunion. I remember the very first game in the 1983 world Cup playing the mighty Windies with that quartet of fast bowlers, he set the agenda and we won that game,” he said.
“He was again fantastic in the semifinal, hitting Bob Willis for a six.”