SL vs IND 2024, 1st ODI: Indian players don black armbands in memory of Anshuman Gaekwad

The Indian cricket team wore black armbands to pay tribute to late cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad, who passed away on Wednesday (July 31) in London. Aged 71, the former India batter and coach lost his life battling blood cancer. Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma wore the black armband during the toss, which he lost as Sri Lanka asked India to bowl first in the first ODI.

"Team India is wearing black armbands today in memory of former Indian cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who passed away on Wednesday," the BCCI said in a statement on Friday.

The ex-India batter, Gaekwad, played 40 Tests and 15 One-Dayers, scoring 2254 runs in total, including twin tons, with his top score (201) coming against Pakistan in Jalandhar in 1983.

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Recently, former India captain Kapil Dev and his teammate Sandip Patil urged the BCCI to provide medical assistance to Gaekwad, who was getting treated for cancer in London. The Indian Cricket Board reacted immediately, as BCCI secretary Jay Shah asked the board to release INR 1 crore for his treatment.

Pant dropped, Iyer returns to XI for 1st ODI

Rohit had to choose between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, and he went ahead with KL as the keeper-batter in the first ODI. Although Pant had recently won the T20 World Cup in the Americas and was also in form, KL was ahead in the pecking order.

The bigger news, however, was the inclusion of Shreyas Iyer in the playing XI for the first time since his fallout with BCCI. Earlier, the Indian board decided against providing him and Ishan Kishan central contracts for the upcoming season.

With all eyes on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, scheduled for the February-March window, the selectors are keen on zeroing in on the final 15 for the eight-team tournament.With a sorted top order, the team management has the middle order headache to handle, with plenty of options waiting in the wings.

Meanwhile, going by the look of the playing XI in the first ODI, KL will keep wickets in the ODIs, with Iyer preferred at number four. Although Hardik Pandya's name is absent from this squad, he still can return, depending on his bowling fitness.

In the meantime, Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag will be tried in the lower middle-order slots.

(With inputs from agencies)