World's oldest cricketer Vasant Raiji dies

Vasant Raiji, India's first-class veteran, died on 13 June 2020.  He was 100 years old.  He is survived by his wife and two daughters.  Sachin Tendulkar and BCCI have mourned his death.  Sachin Tendulkar, while condoling the death of Vasant Raiji, recalled his meeting six months ago.

 The Cricket Board of India (BCCI) also paid tribute to him.  The board wrote on its website that the BCCI was saddened to learn that former first-class cricketer and historian Vasant Raiji passed away.  He celebrated his 100th birthday on 26 January this year.

 The first match was played in 1941

 Right-handed batsman Vasant Raiji played his first match for Mumbai in the year 1941 and started the innings under the captaincy of Vijay Merchant.  This match was a draw.  When India played their first home Test in Bombay in 1933.  Vasant Raiji was 13 years old then.

 About Vasant Raiji

 • Vasant Raiji was born on 26 January 1920.  Vasant Raiji played nine first-class matches in the 1940s, scoring 277 runs.  His highest score was 68 runs.  Historian Raiji was 13 years old when India played the first Test match at Bombay Gymkhana in South Mumbai.

 • Vasant Raiji has been witness to the entire journey of Indian cricket.  He played for Bombay (now Mumbai) and Baroda.  Vasant Raiji has shared the dressing room with Lala Amarnath, Vijay Merchant, CK Naidu and Vijay Hazare.  He has also written many books.

 He made his debut for the cricket club of India in 1939.  He was part of the team playing against Madhya Pradesh and Brar in Nagpur.

 Rai was also a cricket historian and chartered accountant.  BCBI said that Raiji was a founding member of the Jolly Cricket Club in Mumbai.

 He did the work of writing after retiring from cricket.  Wrote several important books on the early history of Indian cricket.

 Although he was a chartered accountant by profession.  After the death of BK Gurudachara in the year 2016, Raiji became the oldest first-class cricketer in the country.