ENG vs IND 2018: Twitter Slams Michael Holding For Sly Dig At Indian Players' Tribute To Ajit Wadekar

That Michael Holding does not admire India much was once again proved on Saturday as the cricketer-turned-commentator made a highly derogatory comment over Indian players wearing black armbands in the ongoing third England vs India Test.

The Indian players came out wearing black bands to mourn the death of former skipper Ajit Wadekar.

Wadekar passed away at the age of 77 on Wednesday (August 15) after a prolonged illness. Wadekar was the captain in India’s first ever Test series wins in England and West Indies.

He was one of the best number three batsmen in the history of Indian cricket and one of the finest slip fielders. He scored 2,113 runs in 37 Tests with the help of 1 century and 14 fifties. In two ODIs, he scored 73 runs including one fifty.  In first-class cricket, he amassed 15,380 in 237 games, slamming 36 centuries and 84 fifties.

After his playing career, Wadekar served as selector and also as the coach-cum-manager of the Indian side from 1992-93 to the 1996 World Cup.

Ever since his death, cricketing fraternity has been busy paying tribute to the legendary cricketer. However, Holding’s comment has left a very taste in the mouth.

Seeing the Indian batsmen sporting a black armband, Holding told Sky Sports,

“Indian players are wearing the black band not because they are 0-2 down.”

The legendary cricketer, who is on commentary duty in this series, further went on to inform the viewers about the real reason. But the damage was already done as the Indian fans did not take that statement kindly. The fans soon took to Twitter to slam the West Indian.

Here are some of the reactions:

https://twitter.com/shubham04_/status/1030761765674446848?

https://twitter.com/Dhruv_Shailesh/status/1030787685449977856?

Indian players are wearing black armbands, not because they are 2-0 down.

Ouch! #ENGvIND

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) August 18, 2018

Absolutely Shameful from Michael Holding

— Mukhesh ? (@mukhesh17_) August 18, 2018

https://twitter.com/The_Priyanka__/status/1030764973855625218?

Michael holding died after joking about black armband by a punch in his neck by bhajji #ENGvIND https://t.co/vM1qRwsV65

— Former ESL Fan (@ICTbayern186) August 18, 2018

Dear Michael Holding,
How does it felt when our Captain scored a double ton, a 3-match-old young lad scored a triple ton and an all-rounder who is no more a part of our tours scored a century against your team when they toured to India last time? Did they put on black armbands?

— Divyanshu (@MSDivyanshu) August 18, 2018

https://twitter.com/Sudhir0306/status/1030760637889052672?

https://twitter.com/iamrahulrajeev/status/1030760152864096261?

Well, this is not the first time Holding has showed his dislike for India.  In the past, he had lashed out at BCCI as well as IPL. Recently, he had severely criticised Hardik Pandya.