Tarak Sinha, legendary cricket coach, passed away at the age of 71 in New Delhi on Saturday (November 6) due to cancer.
Sinha was suffering from lung cancer and he recently had multiple organ failure. He took his last breath at a hospital in India’s capital.
Sinha was the recipient of the Dronacharya award in 2018 for his outstanding contribution to Indian cricket. He was the fifth Indian cricket coach after Desh Prem Azad, Gurcharan Singh, Ramakant Achrekar and Sunita Sharma to receive this honour.
One of the most respected figures in Delhi’s local circuit, Tarak Sinha had worked with different generations of national cricketers. India’s leading wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was also coached by him.
“It is with a heavy heart we have to share this tragic news of Shri Tarak Sinha, the founder of the Sonnet Club, has left for his heavenly abode at 3 am on Saturday after a brave battle with lung cancer for two months,” Sonnet Cricket Club, where Tarak Sinha worked, said in a statement.
“He has been the soul of Sonnet Cricket Club which has given India and Delhi cricket so many gems.
“We want to thank each and everyone who has been by his side in these trying times and prayed for his recovery. We also want to appreciate the efforts put in by the doctors in Jaipur and Delhi who worked tirelessly to revive him.
“Tarak sir’s pride was his students and his support through this period kept him going. He was only thinking about grooming young talent during this battle. Even at the age of 70, he was enthusiastic about getting to the field and working on young cricketers.
“He was in good spirits till his last breath, believing he could still get up on his feet!
“It’s a heavy day for all of us at Sonnet Club, the cricket fraternity and most importantly the students who have always seen him as a guardian.”
Besides Rishabh Pant, Tarak Sinha’s eminent wards include Shikhar Dhawan, Ashish Nehra, Aakash Chopra, Anjum Chopra, Surender Khanna, Randhir Singh, Raman Lamba, Manoj Prabhakar, Ajay Sharma, K.P. Bhaskar and Atul Wassan.
Indian cricket fraternity took to Twitter as soon as they heard the news of Tarak Sinha’s demise. They paid rich tributes to the celebrated cricket coach for his immense contribution to Indian cricket.
Here are some of the tweets:
Sad day for me and all sonnetians as we have lost our ustaad ji today . Toiled for decades and shaped careers but never took centre stage . Cricket fraternity has lost a gem . God bless the departed soul . Rip pic.twitter.com/3pPUe2cZj4
— Atul Wassan (@cricketguru) November 6, 2021
Ustaad Ji is no more. Dronacharya Awardee. Coach to over a dozen India Test cricketers. And scores of first-class cricketers. Both men and women. Without any institutional help. Your service to Indian cricket will be remembered, sir. May your soul R.I.P.
Om Shanti 🙌🙏 pic.twitter.com/fDmvdJC8vZ— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 6, 2021
My heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and trainees of Tarak Sinha Sir. Never met him but heard so many inspirational stories from Nehra and @cricketaakash His contribution to Indian Cricket will be forever remembered. May his soul Rest In Peace. Om Shanti 🕉️ https://t.co/NIxI8111H9
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) November 6, 2021
RIP Tarak bhai.. Heartfelt condolences to his family.. https://t.co/K5y5X04gWx
— WV Raman (@wvraman) November 6, 2021
Massive loss to cricket.
RIP 🙏🙏 Sir !! https://t.co/FXf5BsMY4L— Ajay Ratra (@ajratra) November 6, 2021
My heartfelt condolences to you! His contribution to Indian cricket will always be remembered. #omshanti 🙏🏼 https://t.co/90sbUtmIRK
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) November 6, 2021
