Why Indian players are wearing black armbands on Day 3 of India vs England 3rd Test?

The third Test between India and England is progressing well at the Saurashtra Cricket Association in Rajkot. The action entered Day 3 with both teams battling hard to dominate the first innings. Meanwhile, Team India players were spotted wearing black armbands on Saturday (February 17). The Indian Cricket Board revealed that the gesture was to honor the late former cricketer Dattajirao Gaekwad.

Gaekwad played 11 Tests for India between 1951 and 1962 and also captained the national team during the 1959 tour of England. Predominantly a right-handed batter, he could also bowl both medium pace and leg-break. The Baroda cricketer died on February 13 after being hospitalised for 12 days in hospital. Notably, he was India’s oldest living Test cricketer at the age of 95.

Under his leadership, Baroda won the Ranji Trophy 1957-58 season by defeating Services in the final. His son Aunshuman Gaekwad was a former India batter and coach.

“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,” the board said in a statement ahead of the third day’s play in Rajkot.

India take upper hand on Day 3 even in R Ashwin’s absence

Team India suffered a major setback on Day 3 as veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin pulled out of the Test squad due to a family medical emergency. The off-spinner scripted history on Friday by becoming only the second Indian and ninth overall to take 500 wickets in Test cricket. His absence was expected to loophole in the Indian bowling attack, but other bowlers stepped in, notably Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.

Quick wickets of Joe Root (18) and Jonny Bairstow (0) in the first session put India in the driver’s seat. Kuldeep made a huge breakthrough by dismissing the centurion Ben Duckett. The southpaw completed his century on Day 2 and looked in great touch to notch up his maiden double hundred. However, the left-arm spinner managed to get rid of him for 153 of 151 balls. The visitors were 290-5 after 61 overs when the teams parted for lunch on Day 3.