Former India captain Vinoo Mankad's only surviving son and a former Mumbai cricketer Rahul Mankad passed away at 66 on Wednesday (March 30). Rahul suffered a heart attack earlier this month and was being treated in London.
Rahul Mankad was the right-handed batter and a slow left-arm pacer, whose cricketing stint spanned from 1972 to 1985 in which he played 47 first-class matches and ten List A games for Mumbai. He had amassed 2111 runs which included five centuries and 12 fifties and also scalped seven wickets. Meanwhile in List A games, he had scored 66 runs.
Both of Rahul's brothers, Ashok Mankad and Atul Mankad were cricketers. While Ashok died in August 1, 2008 at the age of 61, Atul died at 62 after a brief illness. Atul played three first class matches for Saurashtra and scored 38 runs in five innings. Meanwhile, Ashok played 22 Tests for India besides first-class games for Mumbai. Atul represented Saurashtra in three Ranji Trophy matches.
The news of his demise was confirmed by a Facebook post by former Mumbai player Shishir Hattangadi, who wrote "Jigga Bhai, rest in peace my friend Rahul Mankad". Mankad breathed his last in London.
As soon as the news broke out on Wednesday, people on social media expressed their condolences. Former India fast bowler TA Sekar also took to Twitter and expressed his shock over Rahul Maknad’s passing away.
“Shocked to hear Rahul Mankad passed away Comes from an illustrious cricketing family True gentleman Good cricketer more than that a great human being My heartfelt Condolences to the family May his soul RIP,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, former cricketer Dilip Sardesai son and journalists Rajdeep Sardesai also offered his condolences through a post on Twitter.
“A flag bearer of one of the greatest surnames in Indian cricket, a very very fine player for Mumbai, and above all else, a wonderful person.. Rahul Mankad has passed away. Om shanti Jigabhai,” he wrote on Twitter.
