Raman Lamba is quite a familiar name in the history of Bangladesh cricket as his tragic death while playing in a Dhaka Premier League match in 1998 not only rocked the cricket scene of this country but also shook the sporting world.
Lamba played first-class cricket for Delhi although he was born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh in 1960.
His first-class career was impressive as he scored 8,776 runs from 121 matches with 31 centuries and at an average of 53.84.
Lamba played four Tests and 32 One Day Internationals for India and had a 50-over hundred against Australia in 1986.
While entering the main gate of Arun Jaitley Stadium, formerly known as Firoz Shah Kotla, the mural of modern-day great Virat Kohli became visible as this venue is the home ground of the Indian superstar.
Just after the entry, there is a list of captains who led the Delhi side in the Ranji Trophy, and also a listing of teams who won the prestigious Ranji title over the years.
Then after turning right, there is a long corridor where on both sides are many photographs of great players who have played for Delhi.
The corridor was rightly named “MAK Pataudi Hall of Fame”, citing the legendary Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
There were portraits of many famous names like Bishan Singh Bedi and Mohinder Amarnath, or players from recent era like Ajay Jadeja, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma and current Ranji captain Rishabh Pant, among others.
While watching one after another, eyes were stuck on one photo frame, and he was none other than Lamba.
Lamba was a renowned name in Bangladesh’s domestic cricket back then and had many friends among the cricketing circle in Dhaka.
Lamba died on February 23, 1998 after being hit on the head while fielding at short leg.
Lamba was playing for the then Abahani Krira Chakra in the final of the Dhaka Premier League against arch-rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club at Bangabandhu Stadium on February 20, 1998.
Abahani skipper Khaled Mashud gave the ball to spinner Saifullah Khan and in the middle of the over called Lamba to field at short leg.
It is said Lamba was asked to wear a helmet, but he thought it was unnecessary because only three balls of the over were remaining.
Mohammedan batter Mahrab Hossian Opee played a strong pull shot which hit him in the head.
The shot was so powerfully hit that the ball bounced back in the air and wicket-keeper Mashud took a rebound catch.
Initially, Lamba felt well enough to get up and later reassured his teammates that he was okay, then he slowly walked back to the dressing room.
The team doctor told him to lie down and gave him water to drink, but after a few minutes Lamba told team-mates that he felt unwell and was rushed to hospital immediately.
By the time he got to the hospital, he had lost consciousness, and after he suffered convulsions, surgeons operated to remove a blood clot from the left side of his brain.
A specialist was flown in from Delhi but later it was known that there was no hope of recovery.
Three days after he was hit, Lamba's life support was turned off with the approval of his family.
His wife, Kim Lamba, had flown in from Delhi to be with him at his bedside, along with their five-year old son and three-year old daughter.
Aminul Islam, the first Test centurion and former Bangladesh captain, was at the non-striker’s end when Lamba was struck.
Aminul said in an article published in ESPNcricinfo that Lamba's role in helping take the country to Test status should not be overlooked.
Lamba is duly remembered in the Hall of Fame at Arun Jaitley Stadium and the home dressing room was named after him in 2017.
A line is written on the Hall of Fame list - “Legends Live Forever”.
He is indeed a legend not only in Delhi but also in the annals of Bangladesh cricket, and his memory will most definitely “Live Forever”.
