Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 24: Former Karnataka first-class cricketer Santhebennur Lokesh Akshay died on Sunday at the age of 39 after reportedly suffering a heart attack while participating in a Division III league match in Bengaluru.

Akshay is said to have collapsed during the match following a sudden cardiac arrest, bringing a tragic and abrupt end on the field.

A member of the Karnataka squad that clinched the Ranji Trophy title in the 2014–15 season, Akshay was part of the championship-winning side, though he did not feature in any match during that campaign. His last professional appearance came in 2019 in the Karnataka Premier League, where he played for Bijapur Bulls against Bellary Tuskers.

Born in Shivamogga, Akshay made his Ranji Trophy debut against Saurashtra at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in a group-stage fixture. Over his career, he represented Karnataka in six first-class matches.

He also featured in limited-overs cricket for the state, playing three List A matches and nine T20 games, and took a total of 32 wickets across formats.

His final appearance in competitive domestic cricket came during the 2012–13 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy league match against Baroda. In that game at Indore, he scored 10 runs off seven balls and picked up two wickets for 39 runs in 3.5 overs.