Rajinder Goel, Ranji Trophy’s highest wicket-taker, dies at 77

The left-arm spinner, who was unlucky to have played in the era of Bishan Singh Bedi, had 750 first-class wickets from 157 games, representing Haryana and North Zone in domestic cricket.

Rajinder Goel is survived by his wife and son Nitin Goel. (Source: Twitter/@AnirudhChaudhry)

Legendary first-class spinner Rajinder Goel died on Sunday owing to age-related illnesses.

He was 77 and is survived by his wife and son Nitin Goel, who has also played first-class cricket and is a domestic match-referee.

“It is a huge loss for the game of cricket and personally for me. He was one of the best, if not the best left-arm spinner that this country has ever seen. His contribution to the game post-retirement was massive,” former BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra said, expressing his grief.

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The left-arm spinner, who was unlucky to have played in the era of Bishan Singh Bedi, had 750 first-class wickets from 157 games, representing Haryana and North Zone in domestic cricket.

READ | Rajinder Goel: The ‘Smiling Assassin’ who didn’t have rub of green

It was Bedi who presented him the BCCI’s CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.

He played first-class cricket till age of 44 and before him, Kapil Dev was the greatest cricketer to have emerged from Haryana.

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