Why are Players Wearing Black Armbands in Mumbai vs Delhi Ranji Trophy Match?

The Ranji Trophy match between two domestic powerhouses, Mumbai and Delhi, is being played at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy, Mumbai. Apart from cricket, this match caught the attention of the viewers as it was a rare occasion when players were seen wearing black armbands in domestic cricket.

The Mumbai vs Delhi Ranji Trophy black armbands were worn to pay tribute to Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, who passed away in a tragic plane crash a day earlier.

Why are Players Wearing Black Armbands in Mumbai vs Delhi Ranji Trophy Match?

Ajit Pawar's sudden death on January 28, 2026, has deeply affected people across the state and the country. As a sign of respect, all the players in this Ranji Trophy match are wearing black armbands to honour his memory.

The match is being played in a stadium named after Sharad Pawar, who is the uncle of Ajit Pawar. The players also held a minute's silence to pay homage to the former Maharashtra deputy chief minister.

Black armbands in Ranji Trophy are not as common as it is more often witnessed in international cricket. However, both the cricket teams, which have some of the best batsmen in India, decided to uphold the spirit of cricket with this gesture.

The battle between these two teams has long been one of the most eagerly followed contests in Indian domestic cricket. However, after a gap of three years, this clash could be more one-sided than ever before.

Mumbai have been the stronger and more stable team this season and has already booked their place in the quarterfinals from Group D. Delhi, in contrast, had a difficult campaign, with frequent changes in their playing XI, and are no longer in the race for the knockouts.

Skipper Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya Miss Out Mumbai vs Delhi Match

Delhi were hoping that Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya, a standout performer from IPL 2025, could provide some challenge to the in-form Mumbai side. However, both these players were called up to India A for warm-up matches ahead of the T20 World Cup, ruling them out of the Ranji game.

After their exit, Delhi have handed over the captaincy to Ayush Doseja, who has been the team’s top run-scorer in his debut Ranji season. Both teams have experienced very different campaigns so far this season. Mumbai are at the top of the standings with three victories and two draws from their five outings.

Delhi are still waiting for their first win of the competition, having played five drawn games so far. They are currently placed sixth on the Ranji Trophy points table. For Mumbai, this fixture provides them a chance to make final adjustments before the knockout stage.

The availability of Shams Mulani, who missed last week’s match because of a bladder issue, strengthens the hosts. However, Tanush Kotian and Shardul Thakur remain unavailable due to shoulder and groin injuries, respectively.