Explained: Why India players are wearing black armbands on the third day of the Rajkot Test | IND vs ENG

India resumed day three with a job in hand as England were placed comfortably at 207-2 in reply to their first innings’ total of 445. They were without their star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who had withdrawn from the squad midway through the Test match for personal reasons. As Rohit Sharma’s men took the field on the third day, they were spotted wearing black armbands for another reason, however.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the reason behind it on X (Twitter): Team India will be wearing black arm bands in memory of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer who passed away recently.

#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

Gaekwad, who was India’s eldest Test cricketer at the time of his demise, departed at the age of 95. He represented India in 11 Tests between 1951 and 1962 and went on to captain the side during the 1959 England tour. Gaekwad also led Baroda to a title win in the 1957-58 Ranji Trophy, defeating Services in the final. He scored 5788 runs at an average of 36.40 from 110 first-class matches, including 17 centuries and 23 fifties to his name. His career-best unbeaten 249 came against Maharashtra in the 1959-60 season.

Jasprit Bumrah gave the hosts their first breakthrough of the day as he had Joe Root caught at slips when the batter tried to play a reverse ramp. However, it was Kuldeep Yadav, who rose to the occasion in Ashwin’s absence and starred for India in the first session. He dismissed Ben Duckett, who could only add 20 runs more to his overnight score, to be dismissed for 153 and then trapped Jonny Bairstow lbw for a duck. England were bowled out for 319 after lunch with Mohammed Siraj taking four wickets.