Indian Cricket Team Honors Anshuman Gaekwad with Black Armbands

The Indian cricket team wore black armbands in their first ODI against Sri Lanka to honor former player and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who passed away at 71 after a lengthy battle with blood cancer. Skipper Rohit Sharma expressed his sorrow and shared his interactions with Gaekwad.

The Indian cricket team donned black armbands during their first ODI against Sri Lanka on Friday, paying tribute to former player and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who succumbed to blood cancer at the age of 71.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Team India would be sporting black armbands to honor Gaekwad's memory. Indian captain Rohit Sharma reflected on his personal experiences with Gaekwad, expressing his devastation over the news of his passing.

'I was lucky to have several conversations with him, particularly during the BCCI awards. He also provided invaluable advice during my Ranji Trophy days,' said Sharma. 'Learning from seniors like him about the game's history and their visions for cricket was a great learning experience.'

(With inputs from agencies.)