Setback for Tripura cricket: former star batsman and spin bowler Rajesh Banik no more

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 1, 2025

In a sad day for Tripura cricket former star batsman and leg break bowler Rajesh Banik (40) breathed his last on Friday night in GBP hospital after being injured in a motor bike accident. Rajesh who had also been suffering from a number of ailments was taken to GBP hospital but the doctors there declared him ‘dead on arrival’-that is, he had died being taken to the hospital. He is survived by his mother . His family refused to have the body put through post-mortem and signed a declaration in this regard in front of police.

Expressing grief over his premature death the cricket fraternity of Agartala said that Rajesh Banik had been born on December 12 1984 in his then home at Krishna Nagar area of Agartala but later his family shifted to Bankumari area near Jogendra Nagar. Rajesh had shown early promise of a good cricketer and and had his debut for the state cricket team in the year 2002-2003 in Ranji trophy and started performing well as a middle order batsman and a leg break bowler. In recognition of his performance the national selectors included him in the under-19 national cricket team and he represented the country creditably in the under-19 cricket world cup and also Asia cup. His maiden ODI century had come against Sri Lanka and he had picked up a 5-wicket haul as a bowler in a match aganst Pakistan. He had also led Tripura’s best ever performance in Ranji trophy or inter-state national championship in 2016-2017 season when Tripura had reached the quarter finals. He had achieved fine averages in all categories of the game-45% in ODI, 40.97% in tests and 38.57% in T-20 matches.

Besides being a better than average cricketer Rajesh was also a mentor and idol for younger generation of players. He would generously help and guide any budding cricketer in batting and bowling whenever approached . His premature death has left a major vacuum in the state’s arena of cricket which will be difficult to fulfill, many cricket players and administrators said.

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