Yashpal Sharma, the batsman who gave West Indies their first shock in World Cup cricket

Former Pakistan captain Azmat Rana (C) and team player Mansoor Akhtar (L) speak with Indian batsman Yashpal Sharma (R). Picture/ AFP

Yashpal Sharma, who passed away due to a cardiac arrest in New Delhi this morning, was one of the architects of India's 1983 World Cup triumph.

He would turn 67 next month. Yashpal's 89 off 120 balls helped India to a 262-run total in the opening match of the tournament at Manchester which the defending champions couldn't surpass.

Clive Lloyd's men were all out for 228 to give India only their second ODI win over the mighty Caribbeans. He deservedly got the man of the match award for tackling an opposition that had Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner in their pace arsenal.

It was the first time the West Indies lost a World Cup match.

"Yashpal was out to an improvised stroke in the 58th over but he had already ensured a stiff challenge for the West Indies," a report in the West Indies Cricket Annual 1984, said.

Yashpal also got a half-century in the semi-finals against England at the same venue before being dismissed by Larry Gomes for 11 in the final at Lord's Former opener Anshuman Gaekwad, who was Yashpal's teammate in several international series and tours, found it hard to imagine that someone so fit could experience a fatal heart attack.

"We did a few television shows together recently and he looked so fit. This is unbelievable. Yash was a tremendous fighter on the cricket field. He just refused to give up and above all, he was a fine teammate, always willing to help," said Gaekwad.

Guts will always be associated with Yashpal. Malcolm Marshall, the late West Indies fast bowler wrote in his book about how one of his deliveries in the Trinidad Test of 1983 hit Yashpal on the helmet and he had to retire with a concussion. But the courageous batsman returned to the crease.

Only recently, most members of the World Cup 1983 team met in Delhi to promote a forthcoming book on the triumph.

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