Why Indian Players Are Wearing a Black-Arm Band?
New Delhi: The Indian players are wearing a Black-arm band to pay their tribute to former sprinter champion Milkha Singh in the WTC final against New Zealand. Singh took his last breath late on Fridays night at the age of 91 years due to Covid-19 complications. In fact, Singhs wife Nirmal Kaur had died five days because of Covid-19. Also Read - Flying Sikh Milkha Leaves For Heavenly Abode. Cremation With Full State Honours At 5 pm Today | Updates  Milkha Singh is regarded as one of Indias best athletes and achieved great success during his career. He was sobriquet as Flying Sikhand did consistently well in the Asian Championships. Also Read - LIVE IND vs NZ WTC Final Live Cricket Score, Today Test Day 2 Latest Updates: Rohit, Gill Start Cautiously For India After NZ Opt to Bowl  Meanwhile, the World Test Championship is finally underway as New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has won the toss and has decided to bowl first against India. The opening day of the Test match was washed out due to persistent rain in Southampton. Also Read - WTC Final: Virat Kohli Surpasses MS Dhoni's Tally For Most Tests as India Captain  #TeamIndia is wearing black armbands in remembrance of Milkha Singhji, who passed away due to COVID-19. #WTC21  BCCI (@BCCI) June 19, 2021  On the other hand, Virat Kohli decided to back the same playing XI which they had announced on Thursday. Thus, the Indian team is playing two spinners in their final XI whereas New Zealand isnt playing any spinner in their playing XI. Rohit Sharma and Shubman are opening the innings for the Indian team whereas New Zealand is opening with Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Both the teams will look to get off to a good start in the WTC final and put their noses in front. Virat Kohli said at the toss, We wouldve probably bowled first as well. But runs on the board has been our strength. In a big final, runs on the board, however many, are an advantage. As you saw the makeup of our side, the balance is such that we prepare for any conditions. Weve been performing really well in Test cricket. For us this is just a Test match we have to be professional in, have to follow our processes. India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah  New Zealand (Playing XI): Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult