Former cricketer and UP cabinet minister Chetan Chauhan died on Sunday due to COVID-19 related complications, his brother Pushpendra Chauhan said. Chauhan, who played 40 Tests for India, was 73.
He is survived by his wife and son Vinayak, who is scheduled to arrive from Melbourne later in the day.
Due to kidney related ailments, his health had deteriorated and he was shifted to Medanta hospital in Gurgaon where he had been put on life support for nearly 36 hours.
“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,” Pushpendra told PTI.
Known to be a gritty player, Chauhan played 40 Tests between 1969 and 1978 and scored 2084 runs at an average of 31.57 with 97 being his highest score. He also played in seven ODIs, scoring 153 runs from them.
He and Sunil Gavaskar formed a successful opening partnership, scoring over 3000 runs together with 10 century stands in numerous Tests in the 1970s.
Chetan Chauhan played Ranji Trophy for Maharashtra and Delhi and was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1981.
Chetan Chauhan also served the Delhi and District Cricket Associaition (DDCA) in various capacities — president, vice-president, secretary and chief selector — apart from being manager of the Indian Team during a tour of Australia.
After ending his international cricket career, Chetan Chauhan moved on to politics and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. He has been a two-time Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from the Amroha constituency in 1991 and 1998.
