World Cup winning Indian cricketer dies of heart attack

Former middle order batsman Yashpal Sharma, who was part of the Kapil Dev-led World Cup-winning squad in 1983, has passed away at the age of 66 on Tuesday after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Regarded as one of the best middle order batsmen, Yashpal Sharma has scored 1606 runs in 37 Tests he played while representing India, with two centuries (top score of 140) and nine fifties to his name at an average of 33 runs. The batsman played a major role in the 1983 World Cup overall, especially in the semi-final match at the Old Trafford against England, where he emerged as the top scorer for the country with a score of 61. Speaking about Yashpal’s death, former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar reportedly said, “It is unbelievable. He was the fittest among all of us. I had asked him that day when we met how about his routine.”

Vengsarkar added, “He was a vegetarian, teetotaller, used to have soup for his dinner and very particular about his morning walks. I am just shocked. As a player, he was a proper team man and a fighter. I fondly remember the 1979 Test against Pakistan in Delhi. We both had a partnership which helped us save the game. I knew him since my university days. Still can’t believe it.” Yashpal Sharma is survived by his wife and two daughters.