Blind statsman Suhas Marathe loses wife to COVID-19, says she was my eyes

Suhas Marathe with late wife Sucheta in 2013. Pic/Sameer Markande

The loss of wife Sucheta, 64, to COVID-19 has made the life of Thane-based blind cricket statistician Suhas Marathe, 69, as bare as an empty scorebook.

Ventilator support at the COVID centre in Thane couldn't prevent Sucheta from death last Wednesday as Suhas was recovering from the Coronavirus in the same medical facility. "I'm shocked, I've collapsed. She was my eyes," Suhas told mid-day on Tuesday. Suhas and Sucheta were married for 38 years.

Already handicapped with no vision in his left eye, Suhas turned completely blind in 2002 after success in a cornea transplant in his right eye was shortlived. "My wife used to help me by reading from magazines and newspapers. She also helped me compile statistics after referring to various publications for me," said Suhas.

With full sight, Suhas used to score at matches and was the All India Radio Marathi commentary scorer when Sachin Tendulkar played his first Wankhede Stadium Test in the 1992-93 season.

"I have to be strong to face this. Some friends have been very supportive especially [fellow statistician] Shirish Konkar and it felt good to receive a condolence message from Mohandas Menon [India's stats guru] via Shirish," Suhas added.