Mumbai legend, former captain, and former chief selector and administrator Milind Rege passes away aged 76.
Mumbai legend Milind Rege has sadly passed away aged 76 following a cardiac arrest.
Between 1966–67 and 1977–78, Rege played in 52 first-class matches and claimed 126 wickets with his offbreaks. In those games, he also scored 1532 runs at an average of 23.56. Following his playing career, Rege served in a number of roles with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), including selector and chief of selector during different periods.
When a teenage Sachin Tendulkar was included in the 1988 Ranji Trophy squad, he was one of the Mumbai selectors. He supported Mumbai’s domestic cricket team’s employment of a video analyst in 2006, making them one of the first to employ the sport’s then-new tool.
“To play for Mumbai, you had to earn your cap and fight to retain it,” Rege had told ESPNcricinfo in 2017 on the eve of Mumbai’s 500th Ranji Trophy match. “Vijay Merchant, Madhav Mantri, [Polly] Umrigar and Manohar Hardikar – these men sat on the selection panel that picked me. These were not mere selectors, these were giants of Mumbai cricket. They were all disciplinarians, and great captains of Mumbai. One failure and you were out, so you valued every innings. This ethos was followed at every level of the game, especially in the intensely competitive club cricket, one of the legacies of Mumbai cricket.”
Before the third day of play began, both the Mumbai and Vidarbha teams in the present Ranji Trophy semi-final in Nagpur observed a minute’s silence in Rege’s memory. The Mumbai players wore black armbands; many of them made their first-class debuts during his tenure as selection chair.
Sunil Gavaskar also had a childhood pal named Rege. They both went to the same college and school. Dadar Union Sporting Club was another venue where the two played together. At the age of 26, Rege also experienced a heart attack while playing, but he resumed the sport the next season. He has been an advisor at MCA since 2020.
“Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Milind Rege sir,” MCA president Ajinkya Naik said in a statement. “A stalwart of Mumbai cricket, his contributions as a player, selector, and mentor were invaluable. His guidance shaped generations of cricketers, and his legacy will forever be cherished. May his soul rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”