V. Santhakumaran Nair, father of former Indian cricketer S. Sreesanth, died at the age of 89 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi on Friday night. He passed away at around 9:44 p.m.

Santhakumaran Nair, who was originally from Mathirappilly in Kothamangalam, had been receiving medical care in Kochi. His death has left the Sreesanth family mourning the loss of a senior member of the family.

His mortal remains are expected to be taken to the family home in Kothamangalam on Sunday. Family members living abroad are expected to arrive before the final ceremonies are conducted.

A public viewing has been scheduled at the family residence from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. The funeral is expected to take place at around 4 p.m. in Kothamangalam.

Santhakumaran Nair was a retired Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) zonal manager. He spent much of his life in Kothamangalam and remained closely connected with his family and community.

He is survived by his wife, T.N. Savitri Devi, and four children — Dipusanth, Niveditha, Divya and Sreesanth. His extended family also includes playback singer Madhu Balakrishnan and Captain Sajith, who are among his children-in-law.

Sreesanth’s cricket career

Sreesanth went on to become a well-known name in Indian cricket after making his international debut in the 2000s. A right-arm fast bowler, he was known for his competitive approach, energetic celebrations and ability to generate movement with the ball.

He represented India in Test matches, One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 cricket. One of the significant achievements of his international career came in 2007, when he was part of India’s squad that won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa.

Sreesanth was also a member of the Indian team that won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup on home soil. He featured in several important matches during his international career and became a familiar figure among Indian cricket fans.

He also played in the Indian Premier League, representing franchises including Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab.

His cricketing career was later interrupted by a disciplinary case that resulted in a lengthy ban from the sport. Following years of legal and administrative proceedings, the ban was eventually reduced, allowing him to resume competitive cricket.

After his playing career, Sreesanth remained associated with the sport through television appearances, commentary and other cricket-related activities.

The death of his father marks a difficult personal moment for the former India cricketer. The final rites in Kothamangalam are expected to be attended by family members, relatives, friends and others who knew Santhakumaran Nair.