Former India cricketer Chetan Chauhan passes away due to COVID-19

Former India cricketer Chetan Chauhan passed away at the age of 73 on Sunday in Gurugram, Haryana due to COVID-19-related complications.

“My elder brother Shri Chetan Chauhan has left us today after fighting a good battle. I sincerely thank everyone who had prayed for his recovery. His son Vinayak will be reaching anytime and we will then perform last rites,” Chauhan’s brother Pushpendra told PTI.

Chauhan, who was was serving as the Minister of Sainik Welfare, Home Guards, and Civil Security in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet, had developed a multi-organ failure on Saturday and was put on a life support system. The 73-year-old had tested positive for COVID-19 on 12 July and was admitted to Sanjay Gandhi PGI Hospital in Lucknow. Due to kidney-related ailments, he was shifted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram.

Former India cricketer Chetan Chauhan has died of COVID-19 related complications, says younger brother Pushpendra Chauhan

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 16, 2020

He had served in various capacities at Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) in the past.

Chauhan played 40 Tests and 7 ODIs for India and scored 2,084 and 153 runs respectively in the two formats. He is survived by his wife and son Vinayak, who is scheduled to arrive from Melbourne later in the day.

Prime minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to the veteran BJP member.

“Shri Chetan Chauhan Ji distinguished himself as a wonderful cricketer and later as a diligent political leader. He made effective contributions to public service and strengthening the BJP in UP. Anguished by his passing away,” Modi posted on Twitter.

Chauhan was honoured with Arjuna award in 1981. After taking the political plunge, Chauhan was twice elected to the Lok Sabha from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh, in 1991 and 1998.

He is the second UP minister to have succumbed to coronavirus.

On 2 August, state technical education minister Kamla Rani Varun, 62, had died days after testing positive for COVID-19.

During his 12-year-long cricket career, Chauhan played 40 Tests scoring 2,084 runs with 16 half-centuries and two wickets. He could not ever get a hundred with being 97 his best.

With Gavaskar, Chauhan formed a formidable opening partnership for India and the duo scored more than 3,000 runs, including 12 century stands.

Having made his first-class debut as a 22-year-old against Mumbai, Chauhan was known to be a brave batsman of his generation.

One of the most memorable moments of his career as an opener was a 213-run stand with Gavaskar against England at The Oval in 1979, during which he scored 80 runs.

Chauhan was the first Test cricketer to finish his career with over 2,000 runs but without a century.

With inputs from PTI