Avi Barot

Picture Credit: Twitter

In a piece of shocking news, former India Under-19 captain and Saurashtra wicketkeeper-batter Avi Barot breathed his last on Friday. He suffered a severe cardiac arrest. He was 29-year-old. Barot was a member of Saurashtra’s Ranji Trophy-winning team in the 2019-20 season in which he had scored a half-century in the final. Barot featured in 21 Ranji Trophy matches, 17 List A matches and 11 T20s for Saurashtra.

Overall, the right-handed batter played 38 first-class matches, 38 List A games and 20 T20s scoring 1547, 1030 and 717 runs in them respectively. He represented Haryana and Gujarat other than Saurashtra.

It’s extremely shocking and saddening: Saurashtra Cricket

The news has left the entire cricketing fraternity in mourning with the Saurashtra Cricket Association posting an emotional message on social media. "Our hearts bleed," said a phrase from their post. Notably, Barot had time and again shown his potential of being a great batter and had smashed 122 runs off 53 deliveries against Goa in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in January earlier this year.

"Our hearts bleed as an outstanding player and very noble being Avi Barot is no more with us. It’s extremely shocking and saddening. May his noble soul be in shelter of benevolent Almighty. Avi, you shall be missed forever," Saurashtra Cricket posted on Twitter.

Here is the tweet:

Meanwhile, former Saurashtra captain, Barot's former teammate, and current SCA President Jaydev Shah also grieved the demise.

"It is absolutely shocking and painful to learn about Avi’s sad demise. Avi was a great teammate and had fine cricketing skills. He had recently performed well in domestic cricket. He was a friendly and noble human being. All of us at SCA are in a deep state of shock after receiving this news," he said.

"Avi's father passed away at 42. He is now survived by his mother and wife who is four months pregnant. It will take a lot of time for me to accept this tragedy," Shah added.

The Gujarat Cricket Association was also quick to send out a message praying for peace for the departed soul of Barot. "Words are not sufficient to convey our feelings. Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Avi Barot, may his Soul Rest In Peace," they wrote.

Here is what Gujarat Cricket Association posted: