Why Are Players Wearing Black Armbands in the 1st Test?

Leeds (UK), June 24 (NationPress) On Day 5 of the inaugural Test match between India and England at Headingley, players and officials from both teams donned black armbands in memory of the late Indian cricketer Dilip Doshi. He passed away in London at the age of 77 due to heart complications.

The match began with a two-minute silence followed by a round of applause, celebrating the life and accomplishments of one of India's finest left-arm spinners.

Dilip Doshi is survived by his wife, Kalindi, son Nayan Doshi—a former player for Surrey and Saurashtra—and daughter Vishakha.

The BCCI shared on X, "Both teams are wearing black armbands today in memory of former Indian cricketer Dilip Doshi, who passed away on Monday. A minute's silence was also observed before the start of Day 5."

Born in Rajkot on December 22, 1947, Doshi made his Test debut at a relatively late age of 32 in 1979 against Australia and left a lasting mark on Indian cricket. From 1979 to 1983, he played 33 Tests and 15 ODIs, claiming 114 Test wickets at an average of 30.71, which included six five-wicket hauls, along with 22 wickets in ODIs.

He excelled in domestic cricket as well, amassing an impressive 898 first-class wickets across 238 matches.

As Day 5 resumed, the match was poised on a knife-edge, with all three results still on the table. England, starting at 21/0, needed 350 more runs to chase a target of 371, while India required 10 wickets to secure a 1–0 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. Rain was forecast, potentially affecting the outcome of what could become a classic encounter.

India’s total of 364 in their second innings was bolstered by two exceptional performances—KL Rahul’s stylish 137 and Rishabh Pant’s electrifying 118, who together forged a monumental 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Rahul displayed remarkable control, becoming the only Indian opener to score three Test centuries in England, while Pant's second century of the match made him the first Indian wicketkeeper to achieve such a feat in a Test, also tying the record for most Test hundreds by a visiting keeper in England with four.

However, India's dominance shifted drastically after Pant’s dismissal. From a promising 333/4, India collapsed to 364 all out, with their last six wickets falling for just 31 runs in 71 balls. England’s resurgence was spearheaded by Josh Tongue, who dismantled the tail with a stunning over, claiming three wickets in four balls and finishing with 3/72. Ravindra Jadeja remained not out on 25, witnessing the innings disintegrate around him.

England's openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, confidently navigated the final six overs of Day 4, reaching 21 without loss, now facing a monumental task to orchestrate one of the most memorable chases in Test history. They are aware that India has only lost a Test when defending more than 350 runs once—against this same England team during the 2022 Edgbaston Test, where they successfully chased down 378 under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.