'Ranjita Rane was a fighter and a disciplined cricketer,' say her teammates and coach

Ranjita Rane (left) with her Mumbai captain Hemangi Bhatte-Naik, when Rane was a liaising officer of Central Zone women’s team during Inter Zonal U-19 Championship at the Wankhede Stadium in February 2018

Former Mumbai cricketer Ranjita Rane, 43, who lost her battle with cancer on Wednesday morning, was a fighter and supportive in nature, her Mumbai teammates said in tribute.

Hemangi Bhatte-Naik, who was Rane's captain in the Mumbai team, called her a disciplined cricketer.

"Ranjita was a much-disciplined cricketer and every captain wanted to have a utility cricketer like her in the team. She excelled in all three departments of the game. After her cricketing days, she served the game as a scorer and team manager. We have lost a very good teammate and close friend," Bhatte-Naik, who played 76 first-class games, told mid-day.com on Wednesday.

Rane represented Mumbai in 44 first-class games from 1995 to 2003.

Former India cricketer Seema Pujare, who played with Rane in the Mumbai and Mumbai University teams, said Rane's demise is beyond imagination. "Ranjita was a fighter as a cricketer and also as a human being... till her last breath. We [Ranjita's teammates] spoke to her two days ago on a video call, but never imagined it would be our last conversation with her. Ranjita looked very strong that day and even told us that she will overcome her battle with cancer. She had the same spirit while playing cricket and never gave up till the last ball," remarked Pujare, who represented the country in eight ODIs and one T20I game.

Surekha Bhandare, who coached Rane from her childhood days at Indian Gymkhana in Matunga, Mumbai senior outfit as well as the Mumbai University team, said: "Ranjita was a very good all-rounder, who bowled medium pace, was a hard-hitter and equally good fielder. But more than that, she was very helpful in nature. I never saw her hurting someone. On the contrary, she was always supportive. She was a perfect example of how one should be a team player."

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