Players and officials honored the memory of former BCCI President IS Bindra and Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar with a minute’s silence before the Ranji Trophy round seven fixtures in Chandigarh and Mumbai. Bindra, who served as the BCCI President from 1993 to 1996, and was also the President of the Punjab Cricket Association, passed away at 84 in New Delhi. Both the Punjab and Karnataka teams, along with match officials, observed a moment of silence at the IS Bindra Cricket Stadium in Mohali before their Elite Group B clash.
In a similar gesture of respect, players from Mumbai and Delhi, along with match officials at the BKC Ground in Mumbai, observed a minute’s silence for Ajit Pawar, who tragically lost his life in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra. The teams paid their respects before the start of the Elite Group D clash, with players also wearing black armbands in honor of Pawar’s memory.
The BCCI, through its ‘X’ account for domestic cricket, confirmed the tribute, stating, “A minute’s silence was observed ahead of the Ranji Trophy match between Punjab and Karnataka in memory of former BCCI President Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra, who passed away on 25th January, 2026, at the age of 84.” Ajinkya Naik, President of the Mumbai Cricket Association, also acknowledged the moment of silence, writing, “A moment of silence was observed before the Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Delhi to pay tribute to the late Hon. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Dada Pawar, honoring his memory and contributions.”
IS Bindra, Ajit Pawar, BCCI, Maharashtra, Punjab Cricket Association, Ranji Trophy, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Karnataka, BKC Ground, Elite Group B, Elite Group D, Ajinkya Naik
