The Indian Cricket Team took the field wearing black armbards during thier ongoing Champions Trophy semi-final clash against Australia on Tuesday, in Dubai. The Rohit Sharma-led side is paying tribute to the late Padmakar Shivalkar, a stalwart of Indian domestic cricket, who passed away at the age of 84 in Mumbai on Monday. Shivalkar made a name for himself by being the pillar of Bombay's Ranji dominance and remains one of India's finest left-arm spinners to ever play for the country.
Shivalkar's name will forever be etched in Ranji Trophy history. He played a key role in Bombay becoming the best Ranji team in their stellar nine-title run between 1965-66 and 1976-77. His career spanned two decades, which saw him take a jaw-dropping 598 wickets in 124 first-class matches at an incredible average of 19.69.
The former left-arm spinner's most iconic moment came in the 1972-73 Ranji Trophy Final, where he produced a performance of ages, picking 8/16, and 5/18 to single-handedly dismantle Tamil Nadu and guide Mumbai to Championship.
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BCCI mourns the unfortunate passing of Padmakar Shivalkar
Expressing deep sorrow over Shivalkar’s demise, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a statement acknowledging his huge contribution and impact on the game.
"The BCCI deeply mourns the unfortunate demise of Shri Padmakar Shivalkar, who passed away on March 3, 2025. The legendary left-arm spinner was a stalwart of Indian domestic cricket, renowned for his unparalleled skill and dedication to the game."
