Former Tripura all-rounder Rajesh Banik, who donned to blue for India in Under-19 World Cup, died in a tragic road accident on November 1. The unfortunate tragedy took place at Anandanagar in West Tripura as per the officials.
“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 (TCA) secretary Subarata Dey told reporters as quoted by PTI.
The 40-year-old is survived by his parents and brother. Born in Agartala on December 12, 1984, Banik made his first-class debut in the 2000/1 season. His last appearance in domestic cricket was in 2018 against Odisha where he picked up a three-fer.
The Tripura Cricket Association paid tribute to the former all-rounder at its headquarters on November 1. After bidding goodbye to his cricket career as a player, he had a knack for identifying young talent. He was in the junior selection committee, charged to pick the Under-16 state team.
“He was one of the finest all-rounders the state has produced, but 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,” Tripura Sports Journalists' Club, Anirban Deb, said in a statement.
Banik’s domestic cricket numbers
From 42 first-class games, he scored 1,469 runs at an average of 19.32, featuring six fifties. He has two wickets in the red-ball format.
From 24 ODIs, he has 378 runs at an average of 18, including an unbeaten 101. He claimed eight wickets in One-Day domestic cricket at an average of 16.25. In T20s, he managed to score 203 runs from 18 innings at an average of 11.94. His T20 career-best score is 47. He has just one wicket in the T20 format.