Former Indian cricketer Yashpal Sharma, a member of the Kapil Dev-led World Cup-winning team in 1983, has passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest on Tuesday. He was 66 years old.
Sharma suffered a heart attack after returning from morning walk and collapsed at around 7.30 am.
He donned the India cap in 37 ODIs and 42 Tests and was a crucial part of the middle-order from 1979-83.
He also served as a national selector for a couple of years and was reappointed to the panel in 2008. While he was part of the World Cup winning team in 1983, he was also a selector when India won the 2011 World Cup on home soil.
The former Punjab cricketer made his Test debut in 1979 against England.
Yashpal scored 1606 runs with two centuries and nine fifties to his name at an average of over 33.
He made his ODI debut in 1978 against Pakistan and went on to play a number of valuable knocks for India in the middle order.
He was also instrumental in helping India reach the final of the 1983 World Cup after top scoring in the semi-final against England.
He is best remembered internationally for his performances in India's first World Cup win, in 1983. He aggregated 240 runs at an average of 34.28 to return as the second-highest scorer for India behind skipper Kapil Dev in the tournament.
Sharma had top-scored with 89 (off 120 balls) to help India make 262/8 in their 34-run victory over West Indies in their first match of the 1983 World Cup. That win in Manchester gave India the self-belief to go on and win the tournament.
Teammates Left Shocked
"Our team has been broken. We have lost the backbone of our team. He was the backbone of the middle-order. He was a simple man, very disciplined. He had neither a major vice, nor a minor vice. He was the fittest of us all. Used to be particular about fitness, would exercise regularly. Hard to believe he is no more," said former India all-rounder Kirti Azad, his teammate in the 1983 World Cup, to IANS.
Another 1983 World Cup teammate of his, all-rounder Madan Lal, is in a state of shock.
"I have just heard the news. I am in a state of shock. I still can't believe it. I can't say anything at the moment," said Lal to IANS before rushing to Sharma's home.
Pace bowler Balwinder Sandhu, who opened the bowling with skipper Kapil Dev in the tournament, was also in a state of disbelief.
"Absolutely shocking news. Never thought he would pass away. We had met on June 25 (at the launch of a book). He looked absolutely fine and fit and was happy to share his [two] daughters' achievements. He was more worried about my health, asked me to reduce weight," said Sandhu to IANS.
"I find it shocking that a lively man is not here with me. It is hurting me deeply that a member of the [1983 World Cup winning] team has passed away," added Sandhu.
Kapil, the skipper of that team, broke down during a TV show on news channel ABP.
"I can't accept it," Kapil said in tears. "I love you Yash," he added.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)