YASHPAL SHARMA


YASHPAL SHARMA
(11 August 1954 – 13 July 2021)

'Crisis Man For India' in the words of Sunil Gavaskar, Ludhiana born right-handed middle order batsman of the 1970s and 1980s, Yashpal Sharma is the only member of the victorious 1983 World Cup Indian team to have left this mortal world...

Donning the Punjab cap from 1973, Yashpal came into the national limelight after his stellar knock of 173 for North Zone in the 1977 Duleep Trophy final, against South Zone packed with stalwarts like Prasanna and Chandrasekhar...

Picked initially for the ODIs, Yashpal’s first match for India was in October 1978 against Pakistan. Making his Test debut in August 1979 against England at Lord's, Yashpal played his final Test in November 1983 against the West Indies at New Delhi, and his final ODI in January 1985 against England...

With 2 centuries and 9 fifties in 37 Tests, Yashpal scored 1606 runs, 140 being his highest. From 42 ODIs he has 4 fifties in the 883 runs scored, with a top score of 89...

In the domestic circuit Yashpal played for Punjab, Haryana and Railways at various points in time in a career spanning almost two decades, 1973/74 - 1992/93. From 160 games Yashpal scored 8933 runs with 21 centuries and 46 fifties, 201* as his highest...

While we all remember Kapil Dev's 175* and his acrobatic catch, Balwinder Sandhu's in-swing beauty and Mohinder Amarnath's all-round efforts, we shouldn't forget that it was Yashpal with his score of 89 against the West Indies at Old Trafford that set the pace for India. He once again top-scored with 61 against England in the semifinals at the same venue, and along with Sandeep Patil (51*), steered India into the finals...

Albeit not the most artistic or a whirlwind run-getter for being a key cog in India's middle order batting line up, Yashpal was determination, resilience and spirit personified, coming to India's rescue on several occasions. He made good the lack of innate talent with his grit, tenacity and adaptability, always ready to take on a challenge...

Retiring from the game after the 1992/93 season, Yashpal remained involved in coaching, commentary and cricket administration. After taking to umpiring for some time, Yashpal held the selector's post twice, from 2003 to 2006 and 2008 - 2011, India winning her second World Cup in his second stint. He then served as the UP Ranji Team coach till his appointment as the head of Delhi's cricket advisory committee in 2014...

Yashpal passed away this day, 2021, in New Delhi after a massive cardiac arrest. He was 66...

Yashpal Sharma will always be remembered as the silent hero of India’s 1983 World Cup win, a player instrumental in upsetting Clive Lloyd’s near invincibles, denying them their coveted hat-trick, and hoisting India as a force to reckon with in international cricket...

May the Almighty rest his soul in everlasting peace...

🙏🙏🌹💐    🇮🇳

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