# Yashpal Sharma (यशपल शर्मा) (cricketer)
**Yashpal Sharma** (यशपल शर्मा; 1954/55 – 13 July 2021) was an Indian cricketer, a right-handed middle-order batsman and fielder who played 37 Tests and 42 One Day Internationals for India between 1978 and 1985 and was a key member of the Indian side that won the 1983 [Cricket World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/cricket-world-cup)[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma) • [2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away). He was India's second-highest run-scorer in that tournament[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| International career | 37 Tests and 42 ODIs for India, 1978 to 1985[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away) |
| International runs | 2,489 runs, with 2 hundreds and 13 half-centuries[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma) |
| 1983 World Cup | India's second-highest run-getter: 240 runs at 29.62, including 89 against West Indies and 61 in the semi-final against England[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma) • [2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away) |
| First-class record | 160 matches, 8,933 runs at 44.88, highest score 201 not out, 21 centuries; 1,859 List A runs[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away) • [1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma) |
| Debut venues | ODI debut against Pakistan in 1978; first Test cap against England at Lord's, the ground where India won the 1983 World Cup five years later[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away) |
| Post-playing roles | National selector from 2004 to 2005 and again from 2008 to 2011; also chairman of the Delhi and District Cricket Association's senior selection committee[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma) • [3](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/yashpal-sharma-to-stay-on-as-ddca-chairman-1509024) |
| Death | 13 July 2021, aged 66, after a cardiac arrest[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away) |
## Playing career
Sharma made his [One Day International](https://www.edgepedia.org/one-day-international) debut against Pakistan in 1978 and received his first Test cap against England at Lord's[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away). He batted in the middle order and was described by the BCCI as a gutsy right-handed batsman and a brilliant fielder[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma). The ICC described him as a solid middle-order batter who was quick between the wickets[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away).
In domestic and first-class cricket he was a heavy scorer. Across 160 first-class matches he made 8,933 runs at an average of 44.88, with a highest score of 201 not out and 21 centuries, and added 1,859 runs in [List A cricket](https://www.edgepedia.org/list-a-cricket)[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away) • [1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma).
## The 1983 World Cup
Sharma's most prominent cricket came in India's 1983 World Cup campaign in England, which the ICC called his greatest achievement on the field[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away). He scored 240 runs in the tournament at an average of 29.62, the second-highest tally for India[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away). Two innings stood out: a brave 89 in India's opening game against [West Indies](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-indies), which India won against expectations, and a match-winning 61 in the semi-final against England at [Old Trafford](https://www.edgepedia.org/old-trafford)[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma) • [4](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/yashpal-sharma-dies-how-yashpal-the-selector-helped-sourav-ganguly-s-revival-after-greg-chappell-saga-1827482-2021-07-13/). India went on to win the final at Lord's, the ground where Sharma had earned his first Test cap[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away).
## Selector and administrator
After retiring, Sharma served as a national selector in two spells, from 2004 to 2005 and from 2008 to 2011, according to the BCCI[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma). India Today dates his first spell slightly differently, saying he was a national selector between 2003 and 2006[4](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/yashpal-sharma-dies-how-yashpal-the-selector-helped-sourav-ganguly-s-revival-after-greg-chappell-saga-1827482-2021-07-13/).
His first spell as selector coincided with the conflict between India captain [Sourav Ganguly](https://www.edgepedia.org/sourav-ganguly) and coach [Greg Chappell](https://www.edgepedia.org/greg-chappell). Sharma was vocal against Chappell and supported Ganguly, and the sports historian Boria Majumdar, India Today Consulting Editor for Sports, credited him with a major role in Ganguly's return to the team for the tour against South Africa[4](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/yashpal-sharma-dies-how-yashpal-the-selector-helped-sourav-ganguly-s-revival-after-greg-chappell-saga-1827482-2021-07-13/). Sharma himself said publicly in December 2005 that Chappell wanted Ganguly out and had questioned his integrity; he was removed from the selection panel that month, replaced by Bhupinder Singh Sr, after [Sharad Pawar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sharad-pawar)'s faction won control of the BCCI[5](https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/msg/20051205.htm) • [6](https://www.thedailystar.net/2005/12/06/d51206040630.htm).
He also held positions in Delhi cricket, including chairman of the Delhi and District Cricket Association's senior selection committee; he resigned from that post in 2014 and was reinstated within a week, shortly before Delhi's opening [Ranji Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/ranji-trophy) game against Saurashtra[3](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/yashpal-sharma-to-stay-on-as-ddca-chairman-1509024).
## Death and tributes
Sharma died on 13 July 2021 at the age of 66 after suffering a cardiac arrest; the BCCI reported that he died in New Delhi, while India Today reported the arrest occurred at his home in Noida[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma) • [2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away) • [4](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/yashpal-sharma-dies-how-yashpal-the-selector-helped-sourav-ganguly-s-revival-after-greg-chappell-saga-1827482-2021-07-13/). He was survived by his wife, two daughters and a son[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away).
Cricketers across generations paid tribute. [Sachin Tendulkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sachin-tendulkar) wrote that he had fond memories of watching Sharma bat during the 1983 World Cup and that his contribution to Indian cricket would always be remembered; [Virender Sehwag](https://www.edgepedia.org/virender-sehwag), Ravi Shastri, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh and others also posted condolences[2](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away). BCCI president Sourav Ganguly called him a valuable middle-order batsman, a sharp fielder and an affable person off the field[1](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma).
## References
1. [BCCI mourns the sad demise of Shri Yashpal Sharma, BCCI (13 July 2021)](https://www.bcci.tv/news/article/bcci-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-shri-yashpal-sharma)
2. [Former India batter Yashpal Sharma passes away, ICC (13 July 2021)](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/former-india-batter-yashpal-sharma-passes-away)
3. [Yashpal Sharma to Stay on as DDCA Chairman, NDTV Sports](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/yashpal-sharma-to-stay-on-as-ddca-chairman-1509024)
4. [Yashpal Sharma dies: How Yashpal 'the selector' helped Sourav Ganguly's revival after Greg Chappell saga, India Today (13 July 2021)](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/yashpal-sharma-dies-how-yashpal-the-selector-helped-sourav-ganguly-s-revival-after-greg-chappell-saga-1827482-2021-07-13/)
5. [Does Chappell have a hit-list?, Rediff Cricket (December 2005)](https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/msg/20051205.htm)
6. [Chappell wants Ganguly out, says Yashpal, The Daily Star (6 December 2005)](https://www.thedailystar.net/2005/12/06/d51206040630.htm)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Cricket › Cricket people and teams › People › Men's international cricketers › Indian men's cricketers › Indian cricketers of the 1980s and 1990s*
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