Former India cricketer Yashpal Sharma passes away due to heart attack

Former India cricketer and a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad, Yashpal Sharma, has passed away due to a heart attack, according to reports. Yashpal Sharma was 66 and represented India from 1979 to 1985.

Yashpal Sharma played 37 Tests and 42 ODIs for India, scoring 1606 and 883 runs respectively. He scored two hundreds in Test matches and four half-centuries in the one-day format.

Yashpal Sharma age and cricket stats

Born in Ludhiana, Punjab on August 11, 1954, Yashpal Sharma had an impressive first-class career. He played 160 matches in which he scored 8933 runs at an average of 44.88 with 21 hundreds.

Yashpal Sharma’s finest moment came at the 1983 World Cup, when he played a key role in India’s historic triumph in England. He was the man of the match for his brilliant knock of 89 in the league clash against West Indies in Manchester. India made 262 for 8 in the match and won the game by 34 runs as the Windies were bowled over for 228. The win set the tone for India at the World Cup.

The middle-order batter contributed a run-a-ball 40 in the thumping 118-run victory over Australia at Chelmsford. Yashpal Sharma also top-scored with 61 as India chased down 214 in the semi-final of the 1983 World Cup against England in Manchester.

He was dismissed for 11 in the final against West Indies but India went on to register a famous win, lifting the World Cup following a 43-run triumph at Lord’s.

Yashpal Sharma played his last ODI against England in Chandigarh in 1985. His last Test was against West Indies in Delhi in 1983.

His highest Test score of 140 was registered against England in Chennai in 1982. Yashpal Sharma featured in a mammoth 316-run stand with Gundappa Viswanath during this Test.

Tributes flow in for Yashpal Sharma on Twitter

Twitterati were in shock as news of Yashpal Sharma’s demise started doing the rounds. A number of fans paid tribute to the 1983 World Cup hero.

Here are some of the Twitter reactions to Yashpal Sharma’s death:

We've lost Yashpal Sharma from our fabled 1983 team. A lion hearted cricketer, his 89 in that first match against the West Indies set the tone for the tournament. And his 61 against England in the semis was vital.
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) July 13, 2021

Shocking! Words fail me as I type this on knowing that Yashpal Sharma is no longer with us. He was a champion who was a hero of the 1983 World Cup win, thoughts with the family. A brave cricketer who was one of the fittest in his times, RIP sir
— Chandresh Narayanan (@chand2579) July 13, 2021

#Yashpalsharma, #cricketer ,#DilipKumar 1983 World Cup winner Yashpal Sharma said actor Dilip Kumar had made his cricket career. Now after Dilip Kumar,Yashpal Sharma has also left this world for heaven. We pay homage to him & pray for courage to family members to bear this sorrow pic.twitter.com/KWu1ILskTa
— satyendra soni (@soni_saty) July 13, 2021

पूर्व क्रिकेटर #YashpalSharma का हार्ट अटैक के चलते 66 साल की उम्र में निधन हो गया।

यशपाल शर्मा 1983 में विश्वकप विजेता भारतीय टीम का हिस्सा थे !pic.twitter.com/VSTVBHV4aJ
— Amanpreet Singh Uppal (@iAmanUppal) July 13, 2021

Really shocking to know about the sudden demise of former #India cricketer #YashpalSharma sir, a member of 1983 World Cup winning team and former selector @BCCI due to a cardiac arrest this morning. #OmShanti #YashpalSharma pic.twitter.com/U7ySBhl4Mz
— Rahul Trehan #MaskUpIndia🇮🇳 (@imrahultrehan) July 13, 2021

Indian Cricket owes a huge debt of gratitude to Yashpal Sharma Ji. One of the most affable names. Spoke to him a couple of times. Thanks for 1983. Condolences to his loved ones.
— Bastab K Parida (@ParidaBastab) July 13, 2021

Excellent fielder and arguably the best runner between the wickets from Indian team in the 80s. Flashed his exuberant stroke-play on many occasions. Part of World Cup winning team & made vital contributions throughout that tournament. RIP Yashpal Sharma
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) July 13, 2021

The 1983 WC winner Yashpal Sharma sir was a bundle of energy. It’s heartbreaking to learn that he is no more. Rest in peace, sir. My thoughts and prayers with his family #YashpalSharma pic.twitter.com/sPNeqtvBOm
— ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ | Dodda Ganesh (@doddaganesha) July 13, 2021

Apart from representing India as a player, Yashpal Sharma also served as a national selector. He was also a renowned commentator and analyst.