The WTC final, between India and Australia at the Kia Oval, began on June 7. It was announced just before the start of the game, when both teams lined up for their national anthems, that they will be wearing the black armbands to pay respects to the victims of the tragic train accident that occurred in the Indian state of Odisha a few days ago.

On June 2, 2023, three trains – two passenger trains and one goods train – collided in the Balasore district in Odisha, resulting in one of the worst accidents in Indian rail history.

Instead of the main line, the Shalimar-MGR Chennai Central Coromandel Express entered the passing loop close to the Bahanaga Bazar railway station. The train collided at full speed with a goods train. A total of 21 coaches derailed, with three of those colliding with the Bengaluru–Howrah Super Fast Express, running on the adjacent track.

[caption id=”attachment_299961″ align=”alignnone” width=”2560″] India’s Virat Kohli, wearing the black armband, looks at the score board during day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship cricket final match between Australia and India[/caption]

Official figures state that 288 people died in the accident, and nearly a thousand people have been injured. It is estimated that the actual numbers might be higher than that.

The Indian Cricket Team will observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Odisha train tragedy ahead of the start of play on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship final at The Oval.

The team mourns the deaths and offers its deepest condolences to the families… pic.twitter.com/mS04eWz2Ym

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 7, 2023

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India have won the toss and are fielding first in the game, something they rarely do in Test matches, and have gone in with Shardul Thakur ahead of R Ashwin.

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