Police confirm ex-Indian opener VB Chandrasekhar's suicide

Chennai: Former Indian opener and national selector V B Chandrasekhar committed suicide over debts, the police said here on Friday, ruling out speculation that he died after suffering a cardiac arrest.

According to a senior police official, Chandrasekhar ended his life by hanging himself at his house in the city on Thursday evening due to debts.

"He was under a lot of stress due to the debts incurred," the police official added.

The former Indian opener owned a team (VB Kanchi Veerans) in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, the fourth edition of which concluded on Thursday.

"He was under a lot of stress due to debts but it has also come to light that his health was deteriorating and he had become very frail," a source said.

"The Tamil Nadu cricket fraternity is in a state of shock as he always shared a close relationship with former BCCI President N Srinivasan. He was instrumental in getting M S Dhoni to Srinivasan's IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings," the source added.

The right-hander, who was only six days short of his 58th birthday, is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Chandrasekhar played seven One-Day Internationals between 1988 and 1990, scoring only 88 runs, but at the domestic level, he was prolific for a few seasons, aggregating 4,999 runs in 81 games with a highest score of 237 not out.

A qualified engineer, VB, as he was popularly known in cricketing circles, was a member of the state team that won the Ranji Trophy in the 1987-88 season.

His mortal remains will be kept at his residence in Mylpaore and the final rites will take place from 9 am on Saturday.