Indian cricket team’s former opener and owner of the Kanchipuram franchise in Tamil Nadu T20 League, VB Chandrasekhar passed away on Thursday evening after he committed suicide at his residence in Mylapore.

Chandrasekhar was an attacking batsman who represented India in seven ODIs and played a major role in Tamil Nadu’s 1987 Ranji Trophy win. He also ran a cricket academy called VB’s Nest in Velachery.

VB has previously served as a national selector, state coach and commentator. He was also active with his Tamil Nadu T20 League team and was very much a part of the team set up till their last game earlier this week. He was a part of the India Cements family and was appointed the first operations director of the Chennai franchise of the Indian T20 League.

Players took to Twitter to pay their condolences to his family and close ones.

VB came into the spotlight when he hit a 56-ball 100 against a Rest of India side in the Irani Trophy clash in 1988. It was then, the fastest century by an Indian batsman in first-class cricket, which was later eclipsed by Rishabh Pant when he scored a 48-ball 100 in the Ranji Trophy in 2016.

Former Indian batsman and World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who opened the batting with Chandrasekhar for Tamil Nadu said to the Times of India, “I was at the other end of the pitch and to see him tear the ROI attack apart which had bowlers like Sanjeev Sharma and Narendra Hirwani was a sight I will never forget. He was an absolute entertainer and a great friend, and this is shocking news for me. I have opened with him so many times and shared a great camaraderie with him during our recent commentary stints in recent years.”

Feature Image Courtesy: Twitter/ VB Kanchi Veerans