It is often said in the twenty-two-yard format of the game that sometimes cricket can be cruel to batters. The death of a young player on the cricket field, or more broadly on the playing field, becomes nothing more than a Tragedy. In the year of 2014, Phil Hughes died after being struck in the head by a shocking bouncer travelling at a frightening speed of 140 km/h.
Since then, this game has experienced both immense popularity and tragic incidents. Following that horrible accident involving Hughes, a tragic event occurred yesterday when a 15-year-old girl from Maharashtra lost her life while practising cricket in Kottakkal, Kerala.
The player, Tapasya, suffered a severe head injury during a practice session and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite immediate medical attention, her condition deteriorated over time. Tapasya’s family decided to transfer her to a state hospital in Maharashtra for further treatment. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday due to the serious head trauma sustained during practice. Her father, Parshuram Seth, a jewellery trader, is grieving the loss of his daughter, who was in 10th grade.
According to some media reports, Tapasya was practising without a helmet when the incident occurred. As the bowler prepared to deliver the ball, she became distracted by an object on the pitch. In an attempt to play a pull shot, she misconnected with the ball, which struck her head, causing her to collapse immediately. The family had been living in the Melamuri area of Malappuram for several years to support Tapasya’s cricket practice. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers in cricket, a sport where even professional players wear protective gear to mitigate risks. The incident brings to mind the painful memory of Australian cricketer Phil Hughes, who died after being struck on the neck by a bouncer during a domestic match.
As the cricket community grieves Tapasya’s tragic death, it highlights the urgent need for better safety measures in youth sports to prevent similar accidents in the future.