Indian men’s cricket team wore black armbands during their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal match against Australia on Tuesday. This was in a gesture of respect for late Padmakar Shivalkar, a cricketing legend of Mumbai.
“In memory of the late Shri Padmakar Shivalkar, Team India is sporting black armbands today,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tweeted on X.
Shivalkar’s Brilliant Career
Padmakar Shivalkar represented the West Zone in First-Class cricket, playing 124 matches from 1961-62 to 1987-88, during which he secured 589 wickets at an average of 19.69. Though immensely talented, his talent never took him to international cricket for India.
He represented the West Zone in the Ranji Trophy First-Class cricket, making his debut at the age of 22 and playing cricket until he was 48.
Tributes from the Cricketing Community
Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) chief Ajinkya Naik has expressed profound regret over his untimely demise.
Mumbai cricket lost a legend today. Padmakar Shivalkar Sir’s contribution to the game, particularly as one of the greatest spinners in the history of the game, will be remembered forever. His commitment, craft, and contribution to Mumbai cricket cannot be matched. His untimely demise is a loss to the cricketing world which cannot be compensated. May his soul rest in peace,” Naik said.
Shivalkar was honored with the BCCI CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 for his exceptional contribution to cricket.
Sunil Gavaskar’s Tribute
Former India captain and batting great Sunil Gavaskar also paid tribute to Shivalkar, saying he regretted that he was never picked for the national team.
“One of my regrets as India captain is not being able to convince the national selectors to include ‘Paddy’ in the Test team. He deserved the India cap far more than some others who got it. That’s fate. He was the bowler who would get the best batter from the opposition out and set up wins for Mumbai. He could bowl the whole day with his economical run-up and beautiful action,” Gavaskar said.
Shivalkar’s contributions to Mumbai cricket and his legacy as a left-arm spinner will never be forgotten.
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