New Delhi: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly, team India head coach Ravi Shashti and many other Indian cricketers paid tribute to the left-arm spin wizard Rajinder Goel, who breathed his last at 77 after fighting with a long-term ailment.
Condoling his death, former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri tweeted, “Master of his craft. Killer line & length in our terrain. Humility personified.”
https://twitter.com/RaviShastriOfc/status/1274751923539738625
Mentioning that Rajinder Goel did not play for India despite the fact that he had taken 750 first-class wickets, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag tweeted pointing out that it was Indian team’s loss to miss out his services.
Sourav Ganguly also mourned the demise of the legendary spinner describing him as a “giant of domestic cricket”.
“The Indian cricketing community has lost a giant of domestic cricket today. His staggering record tells you about his craft and the control he had over it, Ganguly was quoted as saying by PTI.
A very simple, humble man. Highest wicket taker in his last first class season. 750 First- class wickets but never played for India. Was India’s loss. Rajinder Goel ji ko vinamra Shraddhanjali. Om Shanti pic.twitter.com/qTYvalr1nU
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 21, 2020
Rajinder Goel was easily the most ‘contented’ human being I’ve known…I used to envy his sense of ‘contentment’ in my moments of turmoil..RIP ‘Goely’..You bowled yur heart out to keep Ranji Trophy alive..!! pic.twitter.com/U1ZZCQE7KW
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) June 21, 2020
Very sad to hear that a giant of Indian cricket, Rajinder Goel, has passed away. Champion bowler.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 21, 2020
Rajinder Goel participated in 157 first-class matches. He majorly represented Haryana, and ended his career with 750 wickets.
He has recorded the most number of winners in Ranji Trophy as he took 637, 107 more than S Venkataraghavan who holds the second spot in the list.
Goel marked his domestic debut back in 1957-58 season and kept playing till the age of 44.
For his remarkable domestic career, BCCI honoured him with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
Goel almost got selected in the Indian playing XI when West Indian, under the captainship of Clive Lloyd toured India in 1974-75. Bishan Singh Bedi was dropped before the first Test in Bengaluru and Goel was included in the Indian squad.