WTC Final: Players Wear Black Armbands to Mourn Odisha Train Accident Victims

London: In the highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) Final between India and Australia, taking place at Kennington Oval in England, India won the toss and elected to field first. Prior to the national anthem, both teams donned black armbands on their left sleeves as a mark of respect for the victims of the devastating train accident in Odisha. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of over 288 lives and left numerous commuters injured after a collision involving two express passenger trains and a stationary freight train on June 2.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed its condolences and grief, extending heartfelt sympathies to the affected families and friends. Commemorating the victims, a minute’s silence was observed before the match.

As the match commenced, Australia faced a challenging start after being asked to bat by India. The team lost their first wicket with just two runs on the board. Usman Khawaja, the leading run-scorer in the ongoing World Test Championship, was dismissed for a duck after facing ten deliveries. Mohammed Siraj claimed the wicket, catching Khawaja behind the stumps with Shrikar Bharat as the wicketkeeper. Marnus Labuschagne then joined David Warner at the crease, aiming to stabilize the innings. At the end of nine overs, Australia’s score stood at 22 runs for the loss of one wicket.

Stay tuned for further updates on this thrilling encounter as India and Australia battle it out for the prestigious World Test Championship title.