Former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Arun Jaitley breathed his last on Saturday at 66 years of age. After the news was made official, the cricket fraternity is mourning the passing away of the former union minister.

According to a bulletin put out by the AIIMS, the former Union minister passed away at 12:07 pm. The BJP leader was put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which is used for those patients whose lungs and heart are incapable of operating on its own.

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Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag took to Twitter to express his emotions.

“Pained at the passing away of #ArunJaitley ji. Apart from having served greatly in public life , he played a huge role in many players from Delhi getting an opportunity to represent India. There was a time when not many players from Delhi got a chance at the highest level,” tweeted the former Indian attacking opening batsman.

Pained at the passing away of #ArunJaitley ji. Apart from having served greatly in public life , he played a huge role in many players from Delhi getting an opportunity to represent India. There was a time when not many players from Delhi got a chance at the highest level ..cont

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 24, 2019

“But under his leadership at the DDCA, many players including me got a chance to represent India. He listened to needs of the players & was a problem solver. Personally shared a very beautiful relationship with him. My thoughts & prayers are with his family & loved ones. Om Shanti,” he added in a separate post.

But under his leadership at the DDCA, many players including me got a chance to represent India. He listened to needs of the players & was a problem solver. Personally shared a very beautiful relationship with him. My thoughts & prayers are with his family & loved ones. Om Shanti https://t.co/Kl4NpprR6W

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 24, 2019

His Delhi and India teammate Aakash Chopra also had a tweet for Arun Jaitley which read, “Deeply saddened to hear that Mr. Arun Jaitley is no more. A scholar…a cricket lover. Always helpful. Would remember the names of the kids doing well at U-19 level too. World will be poorer in your absence, sir. #riparunjaitley.”

Deeply saddened to hear that Mr. Arun Jaitley is no more. A scholar…a cricket lover. Always helpful. Would remember the names of the kids doing well at U-19 level too. World will be poorer in your absence, sir. #riparunjaitley

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 24, 2019

Gautam Gambhir, a former Indian Cricketer and an elected member of the Parliament from the BJP, expressed his feelings by tweeting, “A father teaches u to speak but a father figure teaches u to talk. A father teaches u to walk but a father figure teaches u to march on. A father gives u a name but a father figure gives u an identity. A part of me is gone with my Father Figure Shri Arun Jaitley Ji. RIP Sir,”

A father teaches u to speak but a father figure teaches u to talk. A father teaches u to walk but a father figure teaches u to march on. A father gives u a name but a father figure gives u an identity. A part of me is gone with my Father Figure Shri Arun Jaitley Ji. RIP Sir.

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 24, 2019

A lawyer by profession, Jaitley had been an important part of Narendra Modi’s Cabinet during his first tenure as the prime minister. He held the finance and defence portfolios and often acted as the chief troubleshooter of the government.