Vijay Hazare Trophy players pay respect to Ajay Verma with minute’s silence

Former Bengal cricketer Ajay Verma passed away suddenly on Thursday after suffering a heart attack at the age of 62. A respected all-rounder, Verma represented Bengal in 25 first-class matches and earned admiration for his commitment and consistency. After retiring from competitive cricket, he continued to serve the game by contributing to the Cricket Association of Bengal’s Vision Program, nurturing young talent and sharing his experience.

He reportedly felt unwell on Thursday morning and was rushed to a hospital, where he passed away while undergoing treatment. His demise has cast a deep shadow of grief over the Bengal cricket fraternity. As a mark of respect to his contributions, a minute’s silence was observed before the Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final between Saurashtra and Punjab. The BCCI expressed heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the Bengal cricket community.

"I can't express it in words. Ajay played under my leadership. I am very shocked. I don't know what to say,” said Bengal’s Ranji Trophy winning captain Sambaran Banerjee.

Banerjee expressed deep shock over the untimely demise of his one-time teammate Verma, who was actively associated with the Cricket Association of Bengal’s 2028 Vision Program. Verma was in charge of coaching various age-group teams and remained closely connected with the game till the end.

He passed away just 20 days after celebrating his 62nd birthday. Verma represented Bengal for 12 years, beginning in 1986. A right-handed batter and off-break bowler, he featured in 25 first-class matches, claiming 46 wickets and scoring 1,263 runs, including three centuries and six half-centuries. After retiring in 1998, he dedicated himself to coaching, working with Under-16 and Under-19 teams, the women’s side, and mentoring players such as Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudeep Chatterjee, and Anustup Majumdar.

"I have never seen such an honest person. I have seen very few people like him in my life. I played with Ajay. I cannot believe he is no more,” said Bengal coach Laxmiratan Shukla.