Hanumant Singh battles for life

Hanumant Singh, the former Indian batsman, continues to battle for life at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Hanumant, popularly known as "Chhotu" in cricket circles, was admitted to hospital soon after the Champions Trophy final, and has been suffering from Hepatitis B and Dengue, which led to his kidneys and lungs failing. He is in the intensive care unit on life support - ventilator and dialysis.

Hanumant, who scored a century on Test debut against England at the Ferozshah Kotla in Delhi in 1964, was healthy as recently as the beginning of November. He returned from Rajasthan, the team he coaches in the Ranji Trophy, earlier this month with the intention of watching the Champions Trophy final. However, he took ill soon after returning and could not attend the CK Nayudu awards function on November 4 or the final on November 5.

"He felt feverish and refused to eat food last Monday (Nov 6) and I straightaway took him to the hospital," Sangram Singh, Hanumant's son, a first-class cricketer himself, was quoted as saying by The Hindu newspaper.

Hanumant, a teetotaller and non-smoker, was known for his health and fitness, and even at the age of 67 was an active member of the cricketing fraternity. Although he never scored a century after the one on debut he appeared 13 more times for India in Tests. He did however amass more than 12,000 runs in first-class cricket and was known as the Prince of Banswara. After retiring from professional cricket he served as national selector, director of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, manager and ICC match referee.

Hanumant's family was forced to endure a tragedy only four years ago when Suryaveer, Hanumant's elder brother, two sisters, and a niece had died in a motor accident near Ahmedabad.