AUS vs IND: India players wear black armbands in tribute to ex-PM Manmohan Singh
The Indian players wore black armbands on Day 2 of the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia.
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday (December 27) to honour former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away on Thursday night. Manmohan Singh, the architect of several groundbreaking reforms that liberalised India’s economy, died in Delhi on Thursday after a prolonged illness. The 92-year-old renowned economist was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Thursday evening following a “sudden loss of consciousness,” the hospital said in a statement.
Sporting icons such as Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag led the tributes to Manmohan Singh, joined by Vinesh Phogat, Dodda Ganesh, Gutta Jwala, and others, remembering him as a leader whose wisdom and humility inspired many. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s remarkable contributions as the architect of India’s economic liberalisation in 1991 and his two-term tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 had a lasting impact across all sectors of society. Athletes fondly recall his calm and impactful leadership, which helped India grow stronger on the global stage, including in sports and development.
Earlier, India fought back with four late wickets to leave Australia at 311 for six at the close of play on Day 1 in the fourth Test on Thursday. Earlier in the day, teenage debutant Sam Konstas lit up the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a thrilling knock in the morning session. Steve Smith remained unbeaten on 68, with tailender Pat Cummins on eight.
Despite sailing past 150 for the loss of just one wicket, Australia found themselves only narrowly ahead by stumps. Opener Usman Khawaja and number three Marnus Labuschagne both missed opportunities to score drought-breaking centuries. Khawaja pulled a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah straight to KL Rahul at midwicket, departing for 57 before tea. Labuschagne followed, caught for 72 while attempting to slog all-rounder Washington Sundar over mid-off. Labuschagne’s dismissal ended an 83-run partnership with Smith and triggered a collapse, as Australia lost three wickets for just nine runs.