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The legal fraternity witnessed a different kind of battle on Sunday—not in a courtroom, but on the cricket field. In an electrifying T20 match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, a team of Supreme Court and Delhi High Court judges clashed with a team of lawyers, resulting in a rare tie, with both teams finishing at 126 runs.
The match, organized by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAoRA), saw the CJI XI, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, take on SCAoRA XI under the stadium floodlights.
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Match Highlights: Judges vs Lawyers
🏏 CJI XI Bat First:
- After winning the toss, the judges’ team put up a fighting total of 126/8.
- Justices Dipankar Datta and MM Sundresh opened the innings, but the team stumbled to 51/5 in 9 overs.
- CJI Sanjiv Khanna played a crucial captain’s knock alongside Justice KV Viswanathan, stabilizing the innings with valuable runs.
🏏 SCAoRA XI Chase:
- Led by advocate Vipin Nair, the lawyers started aggressively but faced tight bowling from the judges.
- The match went down to the final ball, with SCAoRA XI needing 2 runs to win.
- A dramatic last-ball run-out sealed a thrilling tie at 126 runs each.
Awards & Recognition
🏆 Man of the Match – Justice MM Sundresh
🏆 Best Fighter of the Game – CJI Sanjiv Khanna
🏆 Best Batsman, Best Bowler & Best Fielder – All awarded to players from CJI XI
CJI Sanjiv Khanna, reflecting on the experience, said:
“Playing at Arun Jaitley Stadium is a dream come true. It’s not about the result, but the joy of the game.”
A First in Judicial Cricket
This was the first-ever day-night match for Supreme Court judges and marked the inaugural game of SCAoRA’s new cricket league. Over the next few months, eight teams of lawyers, sponsored by senior advocates like Dama Seshadri Naidu, PB Suresh, Sajan Poovayya, and Devadutt Kamat, will compete in a series of T20 matches.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta played a key role in securing the ground, while DDCA President Rohan Jaitley ensured a professional setup with official umpires and commentators, making the game feel like a high-profile tournament.
At the end of the night, there was no winning argument or final verdict—just a celebration of cricketing camaraderie between the bench and the bar. And while ties are rare in the legal world, this one on the cricket field was a victory for sportsmanship and unity. 🏏⚖️
