Why is India sporting black armbands during 2023 World Cup match against England in Lucknow?

In Match 29 of the 2023 Cricket World Cup held in Lucknow, the Indian team faced England after losing the coin toss and being asked to bat first. The pre-match proceedings included the rendition of the national anthems for both teams. When the Indian and English players gathered for this moment, it was noticeable that the Indian players were donning black armbands on their blue shirts' sleeves. This gesture was a mark of respect to the late Bishan Singh Bedi, a former left-arm spinner, who sadly passed away at the age of 77 on October 23rd (a Monday) after a prolonged illness.

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 An eminent figure in the world of left-arm spin, Bishan Singh Bedi had a notable career and left a lasting impact on numerous budding cricketers. Bedi commenced his international journey towards the end of 1966 when he made his Test debut against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens. During this debut match, he delivered a respectable performance, securing two wickets, although the visiting team claimed victory by an innings and 45 runs.

BCCI mourns the passing away of Bishan Singh Bedi

More details here 👇https://t.co/lNpfYAaRUf pic.twitter.com/dQryF6a8rU

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 23, 2023

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Subsequently, Bedi continued to be a part of 67 Test matches over the following 13 years, amassing a total of 266 wickets at an average of 28.71, including an impressive 14 instances of claiming five wickets in an innings. This crafty spinner ventured into the realm of One Day Internationals (ODIs) in 1974, but his ODI career was relatively brief, encompassing just 10 matches in which he managed to secure 7 wickets.

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Indian team will be batting for the first time in ODI World Cup 2023

Turning our attention to the action-packed 2023 World Cup match scheduled for this Sunday, India will take the bat first after England's captain, Jos Buttler, decided to send them in. The Indian team has stuck with the same eleven players who secured a 4-wicket victory against New Zealand in Dharamsala. Another triumph for the home team would significantly boost their chances of securing a spot in the semi-finals.

 On the flip side, England finds themselves at the bottom of the tournament standings, having suffered four consecutive defeats. With their prospects of reaching the semi-finals all but extinguished, Buttler's squad could still influence the chances of other potential contenders in the competition.