The first match of the day began at 3.30 pm IST at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. During this game, players from both teams were spotted wearing black armbands.
The reason for the black armbands was to mourn the loss of former Indian cricketer Salim Durani, who passed away on the same morning at the age of 88. The IPL Governing Body confirmed that the armbands were worn as a mark of respect for the former cricketer, who played for India from 1960 to 1973.
Durani was known for his explosive batting and left-arm spin bowling. He was the only Indian representative who was born in Afghanistan and is widely regarded as one of the hard hitters of his time. His contribution to Indian cricket has been immense, and his passing is a significant loss to the cricketing community.
The last time black armbands were worn during an IPL match was on May 15, 2022. Players from Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wore them to pay tribute to former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds, who had passed away the previous day. These gestures of remembrance serve as a reminder of the deep respect and gratitude that the cricketing world holds for its heroes.
While the black armbands added a somber note to the matches, the action on the field was intense and thrilling. Fans were treated to some fantastic cricketing performances as the teams battled it out to secure victory. The IPL continues to be a hugely popular tournament, bringing together some of the best cricketing talent from around the world for an eight-week long spectacle of exciting cricket.
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