On Sunday, January 25, 2026, Indian cricket lost one of its most influential architects. Inderjit Singh Bindra—former BCCI president, ICC executive, and tireless advocate for the sport’s development—passed away at his New Delhi residence at the age of 84 . His health reportedly deteriorated suddenly after lunch, and he breathed his last around 6:30 pm. The news sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity, with tributes pouring in from players, administrators, and fans alike.
Bindra wasn’t just an administrator; he was a strategist who understood that cricket’s future lay not just on the field, but in boardrooms, infrastructure, and international diplomacy. His passing marks the end of an era—one defined by quiet determination and transformative vision.
Born in 1941 in Punjab, I.S. Bindra was a rare blend of corporate acumen and cricketing passion. A senior executive at Philips India, he brought professional management principles to cricket administration at a time when it was largely run on informal networks and regional loyalties.
He served as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 1996 to 1999—a period that saw significant structural reforms. But his influence extended far beyond his presidential term. For decades, he was a central figure in the Punjab Cricket Association and a respected voice on the ICC’s Finance & Commercial Affairs Committee.
The last rites for Bindra were performed with state honors at the Lodhi Road crematorium in New Delhi on Monday, January 26, 2026. Family, close friends, and top BCCI officials attended the solemn ceremony .
While his death was sudden, his legacy was anything but. In the hours following the announcement, social media and news outlets were flooded with heartfelt messages. Many described him as “the conscience of Indian cricket” and “a man who put the game before ego.”
Bindra’s commitment to cricket wasn’t performative—it was lifelong. Even in his later years, he remained engaged, often mentoring young administrators and speaking out on issues like transparency and grassroots development. He believed cricket should be accessible to every child, regardless of background—a principle he championed through infrastructure projects in North India.
Bindra’s impact can be measured in milestones that reshaped the sport in India:
Long before the Supreme Court-mandated reforms of 2016, Bindra was quietly advocating for many of the same principles: age caps, tenure limits, and separation of powers. He understood that unchecked power corrupted institutions—and he worked to build checks and balances within the system.
His philosophy was simple: “The board exists to serve the game, not the other way around.” This ethos influenced a generation of administrators, including N. Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar, even if they didn’t always follow his path.
Tributes came swiftly and sincerely:
Even critics acknowledged his integrity—a rare consensus in the often-polarized world of cricket politics.
The IS Bindra death is not just the loss of a man—it’s the closing of a foundational chapter in Indian cricket history. In an age of celebrity captains and billion-dollar leagues, Bindra reminds us that behind every great team is a structure built by visionaries who never sought the spotlight. His legacy lives on in every well-lit stadium, every televised Ranji Trophy match, and every young player who dreams because the system finally works for them. [INTERNAL_LINK:history-of-bcci-presidents]
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