Nov 26: Former Delhi Ranji cricketer Gyaneshwar Prasad Thapliyal, who represented Delhi Ranji team for almost two decades, died in Mumbai on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 70.
Thapliyal was suffering from cancer since last year. He breathed his last at the Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai. The final rites have been completed today morning in Mumbai. He is survived by wife, son and a daughter. He moved to Mumbai two years back to be with his son.
A prolific all-rounder, right-hand bat and right-arm off-break bowler, started his Ranji career with Delhi in the 1958-59 season and last played in 1973-74. He played 68 matches and 102 innings scoring 2297 runs at an average of 25.24. He had four centuries with highest being 123 and remained unbeaten on 11 occasions.
The first North Zone cricketer to get nine wickets in an innings for 34 runs remained his best till the last on the bowling front; He took a total of 98 wickets in his illustrious domestic career.
The ever-smiling Gyaneshwar popularly known as ‘Gyane’ among cricketing fraternity retired from State Bank of India from managerial post. He also served as the Ranji selector and junior selector for Delhi state. He also guided the Kapil Dev led North Zone Deodhar Trophy team as manager.
He was a true fighter on and off the field, as he bailed out Delhi Ranji team on many crunch situations and hence tagged Delhi’s ‘Crisis Man’ by the yesteryear sports journalists and cricketing experts.
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