Rajesh Sawant’s death leaves U-19 team in shock

Mumbai: India’s U-19 team were in a state of utter shock on the eve of their opening one-day match against England on Sunday.

India colts’ strength and conditioning trainer, Rajesh Sawant, was found dead in his hotel room just when the team had left to train at the Wankhede Stadium.

Coach Rahul Dravid had stayed back to check why Sawant wasn’t responding  to calls. Sawant was later found unconscious and immediately shifted to Bombay Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The colts, unaware of Sawant’s death, underwent a routine practice session. Dravid later skipped the official pre-match press conference along with team member Abhishek Sharma as the Indian camp was in disbelief.

The 45-year-old Sawant  who hailed from Mumbai and had played club and University level cricket. He had been a part of the Afghanistan national team support staff and had recently worked with the India A teams, who played against England XI at the Brabourne Stadium earlier this month.

Sawant was at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday helping his boys recover from practice match that Indian Colts played against England XI U-19 team. But he died in “his sleep” due to a suspected cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

“On behalf of the BCCI, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and our prayers are with them, to overcome this irreparable loss,” BCCI joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary said in a media release while condoling the sudden demise of Sawant.

India wear black armbands
The Indian players stepped into the VCA Stadium wearing black armbands as a mark of respect to the deceased, India U-19 fitness trainer Sawant and also for the father of speedster Mohammed Shami.