Former India opener and national selector Vakkadai Biksheswaran Chandrasekhar committed suicide over debts, the police said in Chennai on Friday, ruling out speculation that he died of a cardiac arrest.

According to a senior police official, Chandrasekhar ended his life by hanging himself at his house in the city on Thursday evening due to debts, a day after it was reported that his death was the result of a cardiac arrest. “He was under a lot of stress due to the debts incurred,” the police official added.

The former India opener owned a team (VB Kanchi Veerans) in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, the fourth edition of which concluded on Thursday.

“It has also come to light that his health was deteriorating and he had become very frail,” a source said.

“The Tamil Nadu cricket fraternity is in a state of shock as he always shared a close relationship with former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Narayanswami Srinivasan. He was instrumental in getting Mahendra Singh Dhoni to Srinivasan’s IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings,” the source added.

The right-hander, who was only six days short of his 58th birthday, is survived by wife and two daughters.

Chandrasekhar played seven ODIs between 1988 and 1990, scoring only 88 runs. But at the domestic level, he was prolific for a few seasons, aggregating 4,999 runs in 81 games with a highest score of 237 not out.

A qualified engineer, VB, as he was popularly known in cricketing circles, was a member of the state team that won the Ranji Trophy in 1987-88.

The cricketing fraternity across the country was shocked to learn about Chandrasekhar’s death. “I am in a state of shock. A long-time friend is no more,” Woorkeri Raman told The Telegraph.

The BCCI on its Twitter handle wrote: “BCCI regrets to inform that former India opener VB Chandrasekhar is no more. Our heartfelt condolences...”

Sachin Tendulkar and former India captain Anil Kumble also offered their condolences to Chandrasekhar’s family.

His mortal remains will be kept at his residence in Mylapore and the final rites will take place on Saturday.