"Couldn’t you get an Indian?": BCCI faces backlash over National Anthem row during India vs England 1st Test

Players from India and England wore black armbands on the opening day of the first Test match on Friday, June 20, at Headingley in Leeds. Both teams also observed a moment of silence ahead of the national anthems as a tribute to the victims of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12.

For those unversed, Air India Flight AI 171, travelling from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Two hundred forty-one out of 242 individuals on board lost their lives. The crash also impacted BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad.

Among the deceased, 159 were Indian nationals, 53 were from the UK, seven were from Portugal, and one was from Canada. The only survivor of the crash was a British citizen.

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India and England Players Wearing Black Armbands in 1st Test as a Tribute

The BCCI and ECB confirmed that players from India and England would wear black armbands during the first Test. A moment of silence was observed before the national anthems.

The BCCI stated, "The Indian team, along with the England team, will wear black armbands today as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in the Air India plane crash last week in Ahmedabad." Similarly, the ECB expressed, "Our thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible events that took place in Ahmedabad last week."

During the third day of the WTC 2025 Final at Lord’s, South Africa and Australia players observed a minute’s silence and wore black armbands. The Indian team also paid tribute during their intra-squad match in Beckenham with a similar gesture.

Fans Slam BCCI As British Lady Sings Indian National Anthem

Social media users criticized the British singer who performed the Indian national anthem. The fans remarked that it should probably have been sung by an Indian who knows the correct lyrics.

National anthem by an English lady. Might demand Teen goona Lagaan after the anthem.

— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) June 20, 2025

Dai what national anthem is this?

— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) June 20, 2025

Who is that female singer, who's paid to sing the Indian national anthem? It was one of the worst-ever renditions at a sporting arena, rivalling that of Amitabh Bachchan's at the Eden Gardens in 2016 (India v Pakistan).#ENGvIND

— Vijay A (@VAAChandran) June 20, 2025

Indian national anthem in brit accent 🤦🏻‍♂️

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) June 20, 2025

An observation in today's National Anthem of India song by the lady (don't know the name). At the end she sang "Jan Gan Mangal Dhayak Jaya He" and not "Jan Gan Man Adhinayak Jaya He".

Probably should have been sung by an Indian who knows the proper wordings.#englandvsindia

— Akshay Bhatnagar (@akkipopper) June 20, 2025

That national anthem#Cricket https://t.co/lcLuDKcNv5 pic.twitter.com/w7RueUj2xq

— Ritesh Banglani (@banglani) June 20, 2025

The Indian national anthem was very butchered

Shots fired.

— Sank (@CricketIsSimple) June 20, 2025

@BCCI couldn’t you get an Indian to sing the national anthem. I can’t believe that I heard the national anthem being sung with an accent

— ankit agarwal (@89agarwal) June 20, 2025

India Asked to Bat First After Losing the Toss

Talking about the match, Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bowl first. Notably, teams batting second have won the last six Tests at the venue.

India handed a Test debut to Sai Sudharsan, who was slotted in at No. 3. Karun Nair made a return to the side after an eight-year absence and is expected to bat at No. 6. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened the innings, with captain Shubman Gill batting at No. 4.

Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur formed the quartet of fast bowlers, while Ravindra Jadeja was the lone spinner in the XI. Kuldeep Yadav, Dhruv Jurel, and Nitesh Kumar Reddy did not make the playing XI.

Also read: Cheteshwar Pujara shockingly joins Team India in England at the 11th hour