Guwahati, April 21: Assam’s cricketing community has mourned the death of veteran player and mentor Badal Thakur, who passed away on April 20 at the age of 94, marking the end of an era in the state’s sporting history.
Fondly known as “Badal da,” Thakur, born as Dwipen Thakur, was regarded as one of the pioneering figures of Assam cricket. He began his sporting journey in football during the 1950s and 1960s, a period when the sport dominated the regional landscape, before transitioning to cricket following encouragement from his headmaster at Kamrup Academy in Guwahati.
Despite a modest start, he went on to establish himself as a reliable all-rounder, representing the Assam cricket team in 17 Ranji Trophy matches. Over his career, he scored 566 runs and claimed 26 wickets, having made his debut in the 1952–53 season against Odisha. He later captained the side and also represented the Railways cricket team for more than a decade.
Beyond his achievements on the field, Thakur was widely respected as a mentor and chronicler of Assam’s early cricketing years, contributing significantly to the development and documentation of the sport in the region.
Paying tribute, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described him as a towering figure and a true pioneer, noting that his leadership and contributions laid a strong foundation for future generations of cricketers in the state.
His passing is seen as a significant loss for Assam cricket, severing a vital link to its formative years and a figure whose influence extended far beyond statistics.
