WTC final 2021: Here is why Team India is wearing black armbands against New Zealand

Team India led by skipper Virat Kohli was seen wearing black armbands as they turned up for the national anthems before the start of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton.

The BCCI informed that the players were wearing the armbands in memory of the legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh, who dies at the age of 91 in the wee hours on Friday, June 18 in Chandigarh 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

Skipper Virat Kohli earlier on Saturday took to Twitter to pay his respects sharing a picture with 'The Flying Sikh' and wrote, "A legacy that inspired a whole nation to aim for excellence. To never give up and chase your dreams. Rest in Peace #MilkhaSingh ji. You will never be forgotten."

After the wait and gloom because of incessant rains the whole day, the WTC final got off to a start as the New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bowl first seeing the conditions and the dampness in the pitch.

While India made no changes to their playing XI announced on June 17, New Zealand went with four fast bowlers, along with the all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme, which meant the left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel had to sit out. The final also marks the last Test of wicket-keeper batsman BJ Watling for New Zealand.

Playing XIs

India: 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: 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.