Former cricketer Vasoo Paranjape passes away at 82, Indian cricket fraternity pays tribute

More than his cricket career, Vasoo Paranjape was known for being the mentor of the players like Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar among a lot of other players.

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Vasoo Paranjape and Jatin Paranjape
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Vasoo Paranjape and Jatin Paranjape. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Vasudeo (Vasoo) Paranjape, former Mumbai cricketer and a more renowned coach in the Indian cricket fraternity, passed away on Monday. He was aged 82. Paranjape was born on November 21, 1938 in Gujarat and was also the father of former India cricketer Jatin Paranjape.

Vasoo played 29 first-class matches for Mumbai over the course of 13 years from 1957 to 1970 and scored 785 at an average of 23.78. He also scored two centuries and as many fifties in his career. Paranjape rolled his arm over at times as well to account for nine scalps.

More than his cricket career, Vasoo Paranjape was known for being the mentor of the players like Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar among a lot of other players. Interestingly, he was the one who gave the nickname ‘Sunny’ to Gavaskar.

Vasoo Paranjape’s influence on Rohit Sharma

In the book Cricket Drona: For the Love of Vasu Paranjape, Rohit Sharma had recalled how the legendary cricket coach had helped him get into the team after looking at him bat only once. “I remember very clearly when I met Vasoo Sir [Vasudeo Paranjape] for the first time. There was an under-17 camp at Wankhede Stadium, and out of the thirty probables only fifteen were going to make it to the team.

“He watched me during one of my net sessions at Wankhede, and then something happened. He went to the captain and said, ‘We need to get this kid into the team. You figure out your combination and all that. I won’t interfere. But this boy needs to play. Work with me.’

“Prashant Naik, who was the captain, came to me. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I don’t know anything about you and I’ve not heard much about you either, but Vasoo Sir says you have to play. So you’re playing tomorrow.’,” the extract from the book read according to ESPNCricinfo.

The Indian cricket fraternity paid its tribute to Vasoo Paranjape after his demise in Mumbai on Monday.

Here are some of the tweets:

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