Why Indian Players Are Wearing Black Armbands During 1st ODI Against Sri Lanka?

The first ODI of the ongoing three-match series between India and Sri Lanka is taking place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday (August 2). Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss and decided to bat first in the series opener.

During the first ODI against Sri Lanka, Indian players has taken the field wearing black armbands to honour the memory of former player and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who died after a prolonged battle with blood cancer.

Gaekwad lost his lengthy battle against blood cancer on Wednesday. He was 71.

“Team India is wearing black armbands today in memory of former Indian cricketer and coach Aunshuman Gaekwad, who passed away on Wednesday,” the BCCI said in a statement.

Gaikwad made his debut for India against the West Indies in Kolkata on December 27, 1974, and went on to play a total of 40 Tests and 15 ODIs. During his 12-year-long international career, he scored 1985 runs in Tests and 269 runs in ODIs for the Indian team.

No Rishabh Pant!

For the first ODI against Sri Lanka, India included Shivam Dube in the playing XI for the first time in five years, but Rishabh Pant was not included. Pant, who missed the ODI World Cup last year due to multiple injuries that he suffered in a road accident on December 30, 2022, was expected to play, but the Indian team management preferred KL Rahul over him as wicketkeeper-batter.

The 31-year-old Rahul was in red-hot form for the Men in Blue during the ODI World Cup last year. He played in all 11 matches of the 50-over megaevent and scored over 500 runs for the Rohit Sharma-led side.

For the first ODI, India has gone with the two-man pace attack of Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj. Dube, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar are three all-rounders, whereas Kuldeep Yadav is playing as a specialist spinner.

After not being considered for the T20I series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, Shreyas Iyer is also back in the ODI team and will be in action at No. 4.

India’s playing 11 for the 1st ODI: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.