Indian Cricket Team Wears Black Armbands to Honour Former PM Manmohan Singh at MCG Test

Players pay tribute to Dr Manmohan Singh during Day 2 of the fourth Test against Australia; cricketing fraternity mourns his passing.

Melbourne [Australia], December 27: The Indian cricket team wore black armbands on the second day of the fourth Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who passed away in New Delhi on Thursday evening.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the tribute in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The Indian Cricket Team is wearing black armbands as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh who passed away on Thursday.”

A Nation in Mourning

Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92, passed away due to age-related medical conditions. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) confirmed that he experienced a sudden loss of consciousness at home and was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead at 9:51 PM on December 26.

“With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead,” AIIMS said in an official statement.

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Tributes from the Cricketing World

Several former Indian cricketers, including Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman, and Suresh Raina, expressed their condolences on social media.

Yuvraj Singh wrote, “Dr Manmohan Singh was a guiding light for India. His leadership and contributions will always be remembered.”

Shikhar Dhawan also shared his tribute, acknowledging Singh’s integrity and vision as instrumental in shaping modern India.

A Leader Remembered

Born in Punjab in 1932, Dr Manmohan Singh served as Prime Minister of India for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014. He played a pivotal role in India’s economic liberalization, laying the foundation for sustainable growth and development.

Dr Singh retired from the Rajya Sabha earlier this year after serving in the Upper House for 33 years.

As the cricket match continues at the MCG, the Indian team’s gesture serves as a symbol of respect and gratitude for a leader who left an indelible mark on the nation’s history.