VASANT RAIJI (1920-2020)
India’s oldest first-class cricketer, who celebrated his hundredth birthday in January, passed away at his Mumbai residence © TNN
Vasant Raiji, India’s oldest first-class cricketer, passed away at his residence in Mumbai on Saturday, at the age of 100. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Raiji’s son-in-law confirmed that former cricketer died due to age-related ailments. “He (Raiji) passed away at 2:20AM in his sleep at his residence in Walkeshwar, South Mumbai due to old age,” his son-in-law Sudarshan Nanavati told PTI.
Raiji, a right-handed batsman, made his first-class debut for the Cricket Club of India in a festival match in 1939 against Central Provinces and Berar in Nagpur. It featured Indian players such as CK Nayudu, Mushtaq Ali, Vijay Hazare and Lala Amarnath. He then played for Mumbai from 1941. His Mumbai debut came under Vijay Merchant when they faced Western India.
In a decade-long career marred by the second World War, he featured in nine first-class games. However, he continued his association even after his playing days as a cricket historian and authored several books.
© Fame Dubai
