Radhakrishnan Dhanarajan, who played for the “Big Three” of the Maidan and also represented Bengal in the Santosh Trophy, died after collapsing during a football match in Perintalmanna, Kerala, late on Sunday evening.

While playing a Sevens match for FC Perintalmanna in Perintalmanna, against Sastha Medicals FC Thrissur, the defender suddenly fell on the ground in the 27th minute of the game.

Immediately, he was taken to a nearby hospital. But the doctors there said that the footballer had died before he was brought to the hospital.

“We noticed Dhanarajan falling and rushed towards him. He was taken to hospital, but all hopes were over by then. Doctors said our friend died due to cardiac arrest,” Ameerudheen K, an official of Sevens football tournament and a friend of Dhanarajan, told The Telegraph.

“The match started at 9.30pm and the incident happened at around 9.57pm. We don’t even understand what happened all of a sudden.

“He was playing well and made some good clearances. Suddenly, he put his left hand up and collapse,” Ameerudheen added.

The Sevens football tournament, a very popular tournament in Kerala, is run by the All Kerala Sevens Football Association. Players like IM Vijayan, Jo Paul Ancheri, CK Vineeth have played in the tournament. Total duration of a Sevens match is 60 minutes, 30 minutes duration for each half.

Dhanarajan, along with Denson Devadas, came to Calcutta back in 2005 and United Sports Club was the first team he played for.