Chetan Chauhan, former India opener and U.P. Minister, succumbs to COVID-19

The 73-year-old Chauhan, who is also a Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh government, tested positve last month.

Former Indian opener Chetan Chauhan. File

Former Indian cricketer and Uttar Pradesh Minister Chetan Chauhan died at Medanta hospital in Gurugram on Sunday. He was 73.

Mr. Chauhan was admitted to hospital on July 17 after he had tested positive for COVID-19 .

He succumbed to COVID-19  around 5 p.m, hospital sources said. Mr. Chauhan was put on ventilator after he had developed kidney and blood pressure problems and his condition deteriorated.

The hospital sources refused to comment on the cause of death saying that they did not access to the death summary.

He is the second Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister to die of COVID-related illness. Kamla Rani Varun died earlier this month .

Mr. Chauhan played 40 Test matches for India between 1969 and 1978. He also played Ranji Trophy for Maharashtra and Delhi. Mr. Chauhan was the regular opening partner of Sunil Gavaskar during his international cricket career in late 1970s.

He currently held Sainik Welfare, Home Guards and Civil Security ministry in the UP cabinet.

Mr. Chauhan was also twice elected to Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh.