England and India First Test: Reason Behind Players Donning Black Armbands
Here's a refreshed take:
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Mourning in Motion: Indian and English Cricketers Pay Tribute
The cricket pitch at Headingley, Leeds on Friday, June 20, is not just a battlefield for India and England players - it's a platform for remembrance. Black armbands adorn their uniforms, a symbol of respect for the victims of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad earlier this month.
Before the first ball was bowled, a moment of silence was observed, a poignant pause resonating through the crowd. The BCCI, in a statement, confirmed, "Both the Indian and English cricket teams stood together in silent remembrance of the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash."
On June 12, tragedy struck when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London's Gatwick Airport, met its fate just moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane crashed into BJ Medical College's hostel, leaving one survivor - Vishwash Kumar, a passenger seated at 11A.
A Tale of Survival: Vishwash Kumar's Miraculous Escape
Against all odds, Kumar awoke amid the chaos, surrounded by bodies and debris. Somehow, he managed to escape the wreckage and reach safety. His miraculous survival offered a glimmer of hope amidst the devastation, inspiring rescuers at the crash site.
A Sporting Affair: IND vs ENG, 1st Test Kicks Off
Before the heart-wrenching events of the day, England captain Ben Stokes made his move – winning the toss and choosing to bowl first against India, marking the start of the five-match series for the newly named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
India welcomed left-handed batter B Sai Sudharsan to the Test arena, while Karun Nair, who hadn't played since 2017, made a comeback to the playing XI.
Playing XIs
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
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Footnotes:1. Source: The Times of India, June 22, 2025
In the ongoing cricket series, England decided to bowl first against India, marking the start of the highly anticipated five-match series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Given the recent tragedy, it seems that sports like football may have been set aside in favor of the gravitas of this cricketing affair. However, the love for football lingers, waiting for its time to shine once more.
