Revealed: Why India players are wearing black armbands on day 3 of Rajkot Test against England

Team India players will be wearing black armbands on day three of the ongoing third Test against England in Rajkot. Rohit Sharma and his teammates will be wearing the armbands as a mark of respect for former India captain Dattajirao Gaekwad, the BCCI announced on Saturday (February 17).

Gaekwad, India’s oldest Test cricketer, passed away on February 13 at the age of 95. According to reports, he died at Baroda Hospital due to age-related ailments. He represented Team India in 11 Tests between 1952 and 1961. Gaekwad also led the team during the tour of England in 1959. He scored 350 runs In Tests with a top score of 52.

In the domestic circuit, he plied his trade for Baroda from 1947 to 1961. Overall in first-class cricket, Gaekwad scored 5788 runs with the help of of 17 centuries and the highest score of 249. He also led Baroda to the Ranji Trophy title in the 1957-58 season.

“#TeamIndia will be wearing black arm bands in memory of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer who passed away recently,” stated the media release from the BCCI.

#TeamIndia will be wearing black arm bands in memory of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer who passed away recently.#INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 17, 2024

India on backfoot as England make a solid start with the bat:

Talking about the game, England have come up with a strong response with the bat in the first innings of the third Test. Batting first, India recovered from 33 for 3 to post a big total of 445 runs thanks to centuries from Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja. Debutants Sarfaraz Khan (62) and Dhruv Jurel (42) made crucial contributions with the bat as well.

In reply, England raced away to 207 for 2 in just 35 overs on day two before stumps were called. Ben Duckett led England’s charge with the bat by scoring a whirlwind fifty. He smashed a 39-ball fifty and was unbeaten on 133 runs off just 118 balls at the end of the day’s play.

He and Zak Crawley added 89 runs for the first wicket before Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed the latter. Ollie Pope got the start as well but was dismissed by Mohammed Siraj for 39.