Tributes flow in for Savla

Jayesh Savla

Tributes flowed for Jayesh Savla, the 52-year-old cricketer, who lost his life after a ball from another match hit him below his ear while fielding at deep midwicket in a Kutchi Visa Oswal-organised 50-plus Legend Cup match at the Dadkar Maidan on Monday.

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Savla's Gala Rocks captain Rajnikant Shah and tournament organiser Dipesh Chheda cannot come to terms with Savla's death. Shah, 57, recalled how Savla carried tilgul ladoos with him on Monday and urged everyone to have them as it contained jaggery and not sugar. "The impression Jayesh bhai left on all of us is difficult to get rid of. He was a very caring person. He even attended to my injured hand before Monday's game by applying a painkilling spray. His death has caused us sleepless nights," Shah told mid-day on Wednesday.

"He was a very jolly person by nature. We used to call him Jayeshbhai Jordaar because he resembled actor Ranveer Singh in the Hindi film Jayeshbhai Jordaar, which was released a couple of years ago," said Chheda. "He [Savla] started playing cricket only last year. He was a batsman, medium pacer and outstanding fielder, who played for my team last year too. As a cricketer he was very athletic, fit and covered good ground while fielding. If our team were cheerful in any match situation it was because of this ever-smiling person. We will miss him dearly. He stayed at Bhayandar, but would be the first person to reach the ground - 6.15am for net practice at Matunga Gymkhana. He was so disciplined and dedicated," said Shah.