Cricket Legend Worked All Night to Save India-Pakistan Match

Picture this: rain has soaked a cricket stadium hours before one of the biggest rivalries in sports is set to begin. While most administrators would accept defeat and reschedule, IS Bindra rolled up his sleeves and worked through the darkness to make magic happen.

The former president of India's Punjab Cricket Association, who passed away recently at 84, once stayed up all night ensuring his stadium was ready for an India-Pakistan match after torrential rain. While others assumed the game would be delayed or canceled, Bindra worked alongside ground staff through the night, coordinating every detail to get the field ready.

Captain (retd) Sushil Kapoor, who worked with Bindra for years, remembers the morning vividly. He had taken the Pakistan team manager for a walk at 11am, expecting news of a delay. Instead, his phone rang with an unexpected message: the match was starting on time.

When they rushed to the stadium, they discovered Bindra had never left. He had spent the entire night supervising staff, solving problems, and refusing to accept that weather could stop the show.

This wasn't a one-time burst of energy. Bindra's entire career showed the same dedication. In the 1980s, when India lacked world-class cricket facilities, Bindra visited bank after bank seeking loans to build an international stadium in Mohali. His persistence paid off, creating a venue that players still remember fondly for its atmosphere and hospitality.

Why This Inspires

Bindra's story reminds us that great achievements rarely happen during business hours. He could have blamed the weather, accepted the easier path, or delegated the problem. Instead, he showed up when it mattered most.

His legacy extends far beyond one rainy night. As BCCI president from 1993 to 1996, Bindra helped bring the Cricket World Cup to the Indian subcontinent, transforming the sport's landscape. He served Punjab cricket for four decades, turning a dream of an international stadium into reality through sheer determination.

Today's stadium at Mullanpur stands on the foundation Bindra built, but players still talk about the original venue's warmth. That warmth came from a leader who understood that hospitality means staying up all night when guests are counting on you.