By IANS
New Delhi : Former Delhi cricketer Gyaneshwar Prasad Thapliyal, 70, died in Mumbai Sunday after a prolonged illness. He leaves behind his wife, a son and a daughter.
All-rounder Gyaneshwar played 68 first-class matches from 1958 to 1974 for Delhi with a break for one season in 1966-67 when he played for Southern Punjab.
A middle-order bat and an offspinner, Gyaneshwar scored 2297 runs at 25.24 and claimed 98 wickets at 19.87, with career-best bowling figures of 9 for 34 for North Zone, during his 16-year first-class career.
Gyaneshwar was a dependable batsman and had bailed out Delhi from precarious situations many number of times in the Ranji Trophy. His utility to the team was also seen as an off-spinner who bowled long, tight spells.
He also worked as Delhi selector and manager of the North Zone team when Kapil Dev was the captain.
After retiring, he worked as a Ranji selector, as well as a manager for state and zonal teams.