When Supreme Court justice took strike: Judges vs lawyers on the cricket pitch

On a crisp winter afternoon, courtroom gravitas from India's top legal minds took a well-deserved backseat and made way for something far more universally understood: cricket.

Back in full swing at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi was the annual day-and-night tussle between the Chief Justice of India's XI and the Supreme Court Bar Association XI, with this year's edition being as spirited as ever.

This was no ordinary office party game—both teams showed up with weeks of preparation, workouts, and friendly rivalries bubbling under the surface—a tradition even the highest judicial office takes seriously.

“Every time this annual match is held, there’s a lot of excitement and good players play with good teams,” CJI Surya Kant told reporters before the match.

The tone of the match was set right at the start by Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M.M. Sundresh, who walked out to open the innings with the calm confidence of seasoned weekend cricketers.

Their smooth, fuss-free partnership gave the judges an early edge as Datta anchored steadily and Sundresh played with an elegance that had even the lawyers applauding. When Justice Sundresh finally fell to a sharp catch, something rare happened—CJI Surya Kant and the entire judges’ pavilion rose to their feet, cheering him loudly and praising his fluent strokeplay as well as sharp running between the wickets. It was cricket, yes, but also camaraderie at its finest.

From gowns to game gear

The judges, usually more comfortable parsing constitutional law than driving cover shots, won the toss and elected to bat.

Led by CJI Surya Kant himself, the team comprised not only Supreme Court jurists, but also distinguished judges from the Delhi High Court too, all kitted out in black sport jerseys.

They batted through their allotted overs with surprising discipline, posting a competitive total of around 137–139 runs in a 22-over contest. Boundaries drew applause not just from families in the stands, but also from the rival dugout.

Chasing this target was the SCBA XI, a lineup replete with senior advocates and razor-sharp minds, most of whom are far more accustomed to courtroom battles than cricketing ones, but for once, the verbal sparring took the form of light-hearted commentary and ribbing, rather than legal arguments.

Advocate Meenesh Dubey, sitting in the SCBA commentary box, left the audience in splits with one-liners that could have fitted well during court proceedings—he even teased his own side to be cautious, “lest the judges remember faces when reserved judgments come up later".

The lawyers paced their chase well: after losing a few key wickets in the middle overs, they steadied themselves to slot the winning runs with just two balls to spare and several wickets in hand for a SCBA XI victory that had players and spectators erupting.

More than a match: Camaraderie over competition

What made this match special wasn’t who won or lost, but what the game revealed about the people behind the titles.

Judges and lawyers sported their sports gear like seasoned amateurs, strapped on gloves, dived under bouncers, and ran between wickets in the same manner in which they normally sprint to the courts in the morning. Families cheered on, as boundary ropes became as much a place for selfies as they were for spectacular fours.

Against the backdrop of a profession dominated by high-stakes deadlines, intellectual intensity, and years of serious legal battles, this match was a joyous reminder that behind every robe and advocate badge are real people who simply love the game.

The match was a collective exhale—a rare moment when bench and bar shared not just a field, but laughter, competition, claps, and camaraderie. Indeed, after a year that has seen searing debates over judicial accountability and electoral reforms, this informal contest was a welcome pause to show that even the toughest minds in the country can let loose, enjoy sport, and simply smile together.