1983 World Cup winner Yashpal Sharma passes away aged 66
Former Indian batsman Yashpal Sharma, who was an integral part of the Indian squad that won the 1983 World Cup in England, has passed away aged 66, owing to a cardiac arrest. Sharma represented India in 37 Tests and 42 ODIs between 1978 and 1985, and hung his boots post the 1992/93 season.
Former Indian batsman Yashpal Sharma has passed away aged 66, owing to a cardiac arrest. Sharma, a former national selector, umpire and match referee, was a part of the 1983 World Cup squad, led by Kapil Dev, that was triumphant in England. Sharma ended the World Cup as the second-highest run-getter for India, behind only Kapil Dev, and famously, in that competition, struck a match-winning 89 against the mighty West Indies, his highest ever score in ODI cricket. He also, in the semi-final against England, top-scored with 61, laying the path for the Indian side to win its first-ever World Cup title.
Apart from being an integral part of India’s ODI set-up, the right-hander also featured in 37 Tests for the country, between 1979 and 1983, and amassed 1606 runs, scoring two tons in the process. Sharma also accumulated 9 fifties to go along with the two centuries, and ended his Test career with an average of 33.45, predominantly batting in the middle-order.
He ended his playing career post the 1992/93 season, but continued to be involved in the game in other roles. Notably, the 66-year-old was a part of the national selection committee in two separate stints - 2004 to 2005 and 2008 to 2011. In 2019, Sharma was selected as a part of DDCA’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).