India vs Sri Lanka: Why is Team India wearing black armbands in IND vs SL 1st ODI in Colombo?

Team India is facing Sri Lanka in the first ODI of the three-match series in Colombo. Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to bat first as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to the side after the T20 World Cup. However, one thing caught the eye of the viewers. Indian players were seen wearing black armbands during the IND vs SL 1st ODI.

India vs Sri Lanka: Why are Indian players wearing black armbands?

The Indian team were wearing black armbands to pay respect to former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who passed away recently. BCCI also revealed the same in a tweet:-

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

Gaekwad has passed away at the age of 71 after a long battle with Blood Cancer. Anshuman Gaekwad represented India in 40 test matches and 15 ODIs during his Indian Cricket Team career which lasted from 1975 to 1987. 

Gaekwad was in critical condition as he was battling the final stage of Lung Cancer. Earlier in the month, India's former Kapil Dev and 1983 World Cup hero Sandeep Patil had requested BCCI to step in and aid the former cricketer and coach in his battle with Blood Cancer. BCCI had agreed to come to the aid of Anshuman Gaekwad as in a statement Secretary Jay Shah had released INR 1 Crore for the veteran cricketer. 

IND vs SL: Sri Lanka win toss, elect to bat first

Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss and opted to bat first in the opening One-Day International here on Friday. Asalanka said they are handing a debut to pacer Mohammed Shiraz considering the nature of the pitch.

For India, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Kuldeep Yadav will be a part of the eleven, while Shivam Dube will play his first ODI since 2019. Meanwhile, Indian cricketers will wear black armbands in memory of former Indian cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who succumbed to blood cancer on Wednesday.

Teams: India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando and Mohamed Shiraz. 

(with PTI inputs)