Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) a facing in a critical match of the 2026 Indian premier league (IPL) in the MA Chidambaram stadium. The two teams have players who are wearing black armbands. It was thought by many fans to be an act of honoring the legendary singer Asha Bhosale who died on Sunday, April 12. However, the actual reason is different.
The two groups are honoring the memory of the late India cricketer CD Gopinath who passed away on April 9 aged 96. The final survivor of the Indian team that had beaten England in a Test match in 1952, their first in the longest form of the game. Gopinath was the oldest Indian Test cricketer when he died.
“KKR players are wearing black armbands during CSK vs KKR match in Chennai tonight, as a tribute to Mr. Gopinath,” KKR management said in a statement.
Gopinath was a right hand batman who played his first international match against England in December 1951. He played eight Test matches, scoring 242 runs and picking up a solitary wicket. He had 83 appearances on the first-class circuit, and had in total made 4259 runs with an average of 42.16. This had a maximum mark of 234. He even contributed 14 wickets with the ball.
Having retired his playing career by blowing the whistle, Gopinath had then become a national selector, and subsequently a chairman, and the manager in the tour of England on the Indian team in 1979.
Another run-fest on the cards
The Knight Riders chose to bat first after winning the toss, hence the Chennai Super Kings would have been satisfied with their batting. They were 162/6 after just 16 overs.
After Ruturaj Gaikwad floundered with the bat yet again, Sanju Samson (48) and Ayush Mhatre (38) scored quickfire knocks to lay the foundation for the Men in Yellow. Dewald Brevis and Sarfaraz Khan both were doing well in the crease so the home side would be hoping to make at least 210-220.
