Yashpal Sharma

Born on 11 August 1954, Yashpal Sharma is a former Indian cricketer who was an explosive middle-order batsman played during the 1970s and 80s. He was one of the heroes of the 1983 Cricket World Cup winning team. He scored 89 runs in the opening match of the 1983 World Cup which caused West Indies their first-ever defeat in a World Cup match. He made his ODI debut against Pakistan on 13^th October 1978 and his Test debut came against England on 2^nd August 1979.

Some of his major career achievements:-

• In 1972, he scored 260 runs for Punjab schools against Jammu & Kashmir schools and within two years, he was in the squad of the North Zone that won the Vizzy Trophy.
• Scored 173 runs for North Zone against the South Zone in his first major innings in first class cricket at the 1977-78 Duleep Trophy
• Scored 884 test runs with an average of 58.93 in three test matches at the 1979 England tour.
• His maiden Test century came against Australia during 1979-80 season in New Delhi.
• He scored 61 against England in the 1983 World Cup semi-final in which he hit a six with Bob Willis' yorker ball that became a memorable shot.