KSCA prez and Mysore royal Wodeyar no more

Bangalore: Barely 10 days after being re-elected president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, the sudden demise of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar has come as a shock to the cricketing fraternity . The 60-yearold Wadiyar passed away in the city on Tuesday due to a cardiac arrest, had been ailing for a while.

In the run-up to the elections, Wadiyar had been hospitalised and had admitted that his ill-health had left the entire burden of the campaign on Brijesh Patel, who was elected as secretary .

Offering condolences to the family of Wadiyar, who also served as president of KSCA from 2007-10, Patel said, “He was a very happy man when we won the recently concluded elections. He had definite plans for the next three years and was very keen to start implementing them at the earliest. This is really unfortunate. Our thoughts are with the family as of now.“

Former Indian skipper Anil Kumble, who had defeated Wadiyar in the 2010 polls said, “I am extremely saddened by this news. He was a very well respected individual. Personally, I have had very limited interactions with him. He in fact wanted me to have a ceremonial handing over of the charge at KSCA but I congratulated him and told him that the office was ready for takeover, which he understood. He was not well in the runup to the elections and I wish he had paid equal attention to his health. It’s terribly shocking and my thoughts are with his family.”

Former Indian pacer and ex-secretary of KSCA, Javagal Srinath said hailing from Mysore he felt a great sense of loss. “I am deeply shocked by the passing of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar. As a Mysorean, who grew up watching the Royal family and following them keenly, I feel a great sense of loss.“

Going down memory lane about Wadiyar, Srinath said, “We didn't live too far away from the palace and I fondly remember watching Wadiyar and his father during the colourful Dasara celebrations.

Mysore has been synonymous with the Palace and the Royal family throughout. Like its people will agree, the Maharaja tradition has enriched Mysore and the Royal family has made unparalleled contributions. We considered Royals as part of our own families and today I am saddened.“