World Test Championship Final: Team India Wear Black Armbands "In Remembrance" Of Milkha Singh

Team India wore black armbands as they took the field on Day 2 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton to pay tribute to Milkha Singh, the legendary Indian sprinter, who died on Friday. Milkha Singh died of post-Covid complications at a hospital in Chandigarh where he had been admitted in early June. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tweeted shortly after play began on Saturday that the team is wearing black armbands "in remembrance of Milkha Singhji, who passed away due to COVID-19". 

#TeamIndia is wearing black armbands in remembrance of Milkha Singhji, who passed away due to COVID-19. #WTC21

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 19, 2021

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Milkha Singh had tested positive for COVID-19 in May and was admitted to a private hospital in Chandigarh on May 24 as he had been suffering with COVID pneumonia. He was moved to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research on June 3. 

Milkha Singh's wife Nirmal Kaur, who was also being treated for COVID pneumonia, died last Monday. 

"It is with extreme sadness that we would like to inform you that Milkha Singh Ji passed away at 11.30 pm. on the 18th of June 2021," Milkha Singh's family said in a statement.  

"He fought hard but God has his ways and it was perhaps true love and companionship that both our mother Nirmal ji and now Dad have passed away in a matter of 5 days." 

In Southampton, the first day of the WTC final was washed out due to rain. No toss was possible on the opening day due to heavy downpour. 

On Day 2, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to field first.

Topics mentioned in this article

India Cricket Team New Zealand Cricket Team World Test Championship 2021 India vs New Zealand, Final Cricket