Yashpal Mohanty passes away aged 38

Yashpal Mohanty passes away aged 38 Yashpal Mohanty, the former (भूतपूर्व) Odisha wicket keeper-batsman, passed away on Thursday (February 23) at his residence in Bhubaneswar. He was 38. Mohanty, or Ben as he was popularly known in the circuit, was involved in a car accident in January 2015 in which one of his three co-passengers died on the spot. Mohanty himself was in a coma for

more than two years before breathing his last. He is survived by his parents, wife and a son. Mohanty made his first-class debt for Odisha against Tripura in January 2000, and was touted (टाल दिया) to replace Gautam Gopal in the long-term. He, however, played only seven matches for Odisha, scoring 207 runs and effecting 20 dismissals(शिकार) . He also played seven List A games between November 1997 and December 2001 for 70 runs and seven dismissals.  His highest score of 59 not out came from No. 7 in a Ranji Trophy clash against Tamil Nadu at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack in March 2000. Mohanty’s best performance behind the stumps was against Bihar in November that same year when he took five catches including that of MS Dhoni, his opposite number, in the first innings after he had hit five fours and a six in a brisk 39 from No. 7.

Before the accident, Mohanty was a practising lawyer at the Odisha High Court in Cuttack.