Kusumagraj had been ailing for past few years. His health had deteriorated over the last two months and he was confined to bed. He breathed his last around noon today. In his prolific and brilliant career, Kusumagraj authored 16 volumes of poems, three novels, eight volumes of short stories, seven volumes of essays, 18 plays and six one-act plays.

His Vishakha volume of poems and play Natasamrat are considered to be his finest contribution to Marathi literature. Apart from several State awards, he was conferred with the Jnanpith Award in 1988. Kusumagraj was also the chairperson of the World Marathi Conference in 1989.