Uttar Pradesh minister and Former India cricketer Chetan Chauhan, who tested positive for COVID-19 last month (July 12), died on Sunday after suffering from multi-organ failure. He was 73.
73-year-old Chetan Chauhan was being treated at the Medanta Hospital for COVID-19 where he was on life support since yesterday and his condition was said to be critical.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed grief over the demise of former cricketer and politician Chetan Chauhan and termed him a “wonderful cricketer” and a “diligent political leader”.
Shri Chetan Chauhan Ji distinguished himself as a wonderful cricketer and later as a diligent political leader. He made effective contributions to public service and strengthening the BJP in UP. Anguished by his passing away. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2020
Pm Modi also mentioned that Chauhan effectively contributed to public service and strengthen the BJP in UP.
“Shri Chetan Chauhan Ji distinguished himself as a wonderful cricketer and later as a diligent political leader. He made effective contributions to public service and strengthening the BJP in UP. Anguished by his passing away. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” PM Modi tweeted.
Chauhan, one of the mainstays in the Indian Test lineup in the 1970s, played 40 Tests for India (between 1969 and 1978). Chauhan made India debut, against New Zealand at Mumbai (in 1969), is survived by his wife and son Vinayak, who is scheduled to arrive from Melbourne later in the day.
Chauhan worked on an indomitable opening partnership with Sunil Gavaskar and together they stitched 3022 runs in 59 opening stands. He was also the first Test player to have amassed 2000 runs without scoring a century.
The Arjuna Award recipient, Chetan Chauhan is the second UP minister to have died of COVID-19. On August 2, state technical education minister Kamla Rani Varun died days after testing positive for the coronavirus.