Ex-Mumbai pacer Rajesh Verma passes away at 40

Rajesh Verma

The death of former Mumbai medium-pacer Rajesh Verma, 40, has left the city's cricketing fraternity in shock. Verma, who claimed 23 first-class wickets in seven games for Mumbai from 2002 to 2008, passed away following a cardiac arrest at his Thane residence on Sunday morning.

Jaffer shocked

Former Mumbai skipper Wasim Jaffer, who played alongside Verma in the Ranji Trophy and against him in corporate and club matches, rated him as one of the best swing bowlers. "This [Verma's death] is very shocking. Rajesh came from a humble background, but was a talented cricketer. He could have easily been a 300-plus Ranji Trophy wicket-taking bowler given the way he swung the ball and attacked the stumps.

Unfortunately, he did not live up to his potential probably due to a lack of discipline," Jaffer told mid-day.

Former wicketkeeper-batsman Vinayak Samant, who played for Cricket Club of India, a team that even Verma represented, hailed the pacer for his accuracy. "Rajesh's in-swinging delivery was lethal. Had he focused on his fitness, he could have played for India," said Samant, who also played corporate cricket for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) alongside Verma.

Penultimate maiden over

Samant recalled a BPCL triumph in 2006: "We [BPCL] beat hosts DY Patil Academy in the final of the DY Patil T20 Cup only because of Rajesh. Sridharan Sriram [currently Australia's assistant coach] and [former India pacer] Abey Kuruvilla were at the crease and Rajesh bowled a maiden 19th over that turned the match in our favour."