Former U19 World Cup cricketer and Tripura captain passes away in road accident
Banik was a former Tripura cricketer and state captain and played 42 First-Class, 24 List A and 18 T20s throughout his professional career.
Former Tripura captain and ex-India U15 cricketer Rajesh Banik tragically passed away in a road accident in Anandanagar. Banik played 42 First-Class, 24 List A and 18 T20 matches in his professional career.
Banik, who is survived by his parents and brother, was amongst Tripura's prominent cricketers of his time and also served as a selector for Tripura's U16 outfit. Banik, a right-handed batter and a part-time leg-spinner, scored 1469 and 378 runs in his FC and List A career.
He was the teammate of the likes of Irfan Pathan and Ambati Rayudu in the India Under-15 team in the Asian Cricket Council Under-15 tournament in Kuala Lumpur in 2000. Later that year, he also toured England with the Under-15 setup.
Banik represented Tripura in several domestic age-group tournaments, including the Vijay Merchant Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the CK Nayudu Trophy, the MA Chidambaram Trophy, the Buchi Babu Invitational, the Under-19s Cooch Behar Trophy and the National Under-25 tournament.
The senior men's team of Tripura is currently playing a 2025-26 Ranji Trophy match against Bengal in Agartala. The players took field wearing black armbands as a sign of reverence for Banik.
"This is very unfortunate that we have lost a talented cricketer and selector of the Under-16 cricket team. We are shocked. May his soul rest in peace," Tripura Cricket Association secretary Subrata Dey was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Meanwhile, Tripura Sports Journalists' Club secretary Anirban Deb praised Banik's impactful contribution as a selector and his knack for identifying exciting prospects.
"Not many knew about his ability to identify young talent. That's why he was made one of the selectors of the Under-16 state team," added Deb.
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Although Deb could never go onto represent India at the senior level, his contribution to Tripura cricket will always be remembered. He will always be remembered as a talented cricketer and an icon for youngsters growing up in Tripura.
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