Former India pacer David Johnson, known for his brief but notable stint with the Indian cricket team in the mid-1990s, has tragically passed away at the age of 52. He allegedly fell from the fourth-floor balcony of his apartment in Kothanur, Bengaluru, on Thursday, leading to fatal injuries. Despite being rushed to Crescent Hospital, he was declared “brought dead” upon arrival.
Born in October 1971 in the Arasikere region, Johnson earned recognition for his impressive pace bowling in domestic cricket. His remarkable performance in the 1995-96 Ranji Trophy season, where he took 10 wickets for 152 runs against Kerala, paved his way into the Indian Test team. He made his debut against Australia in 1996 and played a part in the tour to South Africa, participating in the first Test of the series.
Johnson’s international career was short-lived due to issues with control, but he maintained a respectable domestic record with 125 wickets in 39 first-class matches at an average of 28.63. He also scored a century batting in the lower order.
The local police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his fall to determine if it was accidental or intentional, having filed an unnatural death report. His death is a significant loss to the cricket community, particularly in Karnataka, where he had made substantial contributions.
