Ravi Shastri confirmed CSK and KKR players wear black armbands to pay tribute to CD Gopinath.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026 on April 14 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, where players from both teams wore black armbands. The gesture honored former India cricketer CD Gopinath, as confirmed by Ravi Shastri.
Gopinath died last week at 96. He remained India’s oldest Test cricketer and the second-oldest globally after Neil Harvey. The BCCI expressed condolences on April 9 following his passing in Chennai.
Watch the video here:
.@ChennaiIPL and @KKRiders are wearing black armbands as a mark of respect to former India cricketer C.D. Gopinath, who breathed his last on April 9.#TATAIPL | #CSKvKKR pic.twitter.com/Zv9NxNjAp6
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 14, 2026
Gopinath played 8 Tests between 1951 and 1960 and made an immediate impact with scores of 50 not out and 42 on debut against England. He also featured in India’s first Test win in 1952 in Madras, a landmark moment in the country’s cricket history.
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At the domestic level, CD Gopinath led Madras and played a key role in shaping the team during the early years of Indian cricket. He built a strong first-class record, scoring 4,259 runs in 60 matches. His standout contribution came in the 1954-55 season, when he scored a century in the final to guide Madras to their maiden Ranji Trophy title.
After retirement, Gopinath stayed involved with the game. He served as a national selector and later chaired the selection panel. He also managed the Indian team on the 1979 tour of England, remaining a respected figure in cricket for decades.
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