The opening day of the first Test between India and England at Headingley began on a sombre note. Both teams took the field wearing black armbands and stood in silence before the start of play.
They were paying tribute to the victims of the recent air tragedy in Ahmedabad. This show of solidarity comes in the wake of the devastating crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that occurred on June 12.
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The plane was bound for London but it went down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad. It took 274 lives.
Among the deceased were 181 Indian nationals and 53 British citizens, which made the occasion especially emotional for both teams.
Why are India and England players wearing black armbands at Headingley?
The black armbands are a mark of respect for the lives lost in the Ahmedabad air crash. The gesture - along with the minute's silence - was jointly agreed upon by both cricket boards and players to express shared grief and support for the bereaved families.
The aircraft crash caused further devastation as it hit the B.J. Medical College hostel in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area. Only one person is reported to have survived the crash.
India vice-captain Rishabh Pant spoke on behalf of the team during the pre-match build-up. He reflected on the emotional weight of the moment and the team's desire to uplift the nation through their performance.
"What happened with the aircraft, the whole of India was saddened by it. The only thing from our side, we’re going to be sticking to how we can make India happy again," said Pant.
A perfectly observed minutes silence.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 20, 2025
This morning we remember those lost in the tragic Air India crash last week. pic.twitter.com/mEDsQPqVmH