HP pacer Sidharth Sharma passes away

Himachal Pradesh pacer Sidharth Sharma, who was on a tour of Gujarat with his side for the team’s next Ranji Trophy match, tragically passed away after falling ill for more than 24 hours. Sharma had fallen sick and was admitted to a hospital in Gujarat after which he was found dead.

A native of the native of the Una district in Himachal Pradesh, Sharma played a crucial role in Himachal Pradesh clinching the Vijay Hazare Trophy last year and in his last Ranji Trophy match against Bengal at the Eden Gardens, he secured a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

In six first-class matches, Sharma secured 25 wickets at an average of 22.20. In six List A matches, the pacer had 6 wickets and became one of the crucial cogs in the Himachal set-up. The 28-year-old had also played one T20 match but his medium fast bowling and the ability to swing the ball both ways was slowly making him a permanent fixture in the side.

“Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed deep grief over the demise of Siddharth Sharma, a member of Himachal's Vijay Hazare Trophy-winning cricket team and the state's star fast bowler. The Chief Minister has expressed his deepest condolences with the bereaved families,” CMO Himachal Pradesh tweeted.

Sharma was cremated at Bhabhor Saheb crematorium on Friday, January 13. Among the people to have shared their grief are deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal, Una MLA Satpal Satti, former HPCA secretary Sumit Sharma, HPCA member Surendra Sharma, district cricket association president Madan Puri, and former MLA Satpal Raizada.