Punjab Newsline, Sports:
Emotional moments witnessed in Chandigarh and Mumbai as players honour two towering personalities before Round Seven matches
Indian domestic cricket witnessed poignant scenes as players and match officials observed a minute’s silence in memory of former BCCI President IS Bindra and Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ahead of Ranji Trophy Round Seven fixtures in Chandigarh and Mumbai.
At the IS Bindra Cricket Stadium in Mohali, the Elite Group B clash between Punjab and Karnataka began on a solemn note. Both teams, along with the match officials, paused proceedings to pay tribute to Inderjit Singh Bindra, one of the most influential administrators in Indian cricket. Bindra, who served as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 1993 to 1996 and was also the President of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), passed away in New Delhi on Sunday at the age of 84.
Acknowledging his immense contribution to Indian cricket, the BCCI shared a message through its domestic cricket handle on ‘X’, stating that a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the former BCCI President, who passed away on January 25, 2026. Bindra played a key role in shaping Indian cricket administration and was instrumental in the development of modern cricket infrastructure in Punjab, including the iconic Mohali stadium that bears his name.
Meanwhile, at the BKC Ground in Mumbai, similar emotional scenes unfolded before the Elite Group D encounter between Mumbai and Delhi. Players from both sides, along with match officials, observed a minute’s silence to honour the memory of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Dada Pawar, who tragically lost his life in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, on Wednesday. As a mark of respect, players also took the field wearing black armbands.
Mumbai Cricket Association President Ajinkya Naik paid tribute through his ‘X’ account, stating that the moment of silence was observed to honour Ajit Pawar’s memory and acknowledge his contributions. The gesture reflected the deep respect the cricketing fraternity holds for leaders who have played significant roles beyond the sporting arena.
These moments of silence across venues underlined the strong bond between cricket and society in India. The Ranji Trophy, the country’s premier domestic tournament, once again proved that while the game is fiercely competitive, it never forgets to pause and pay respect to those who have left a lasting legacy.