Why was Team India Wearing Black Armbands During the T20 World Cup Super 8 Match Against Afghanistan?
At Kensington Oval, Barbados, to honor the former Indian cricketer, David Johnson, Indian players wore black armbands in their first Super 8 match. The former India pacer had passed away earlier in the day in Bengaluru at the age of 52.
“Team India will wear black armbands today in memory of former India fast bowler David Johnson, who passed away on Thursday,” the BCCI had said shortly before the start of play at the Kensington Oval.
Though mourning the tragic loss, Indian cricketers still managed to win against Afghanistan by 47 runs. Both skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli came out to bat wearing black armbands.
Who Was David Johnson?
Johnson was a key member of Karnataka’s formidable bowling lineup 1990s which featured legends like Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, and Dodda Ganesh.
Johnson in his domestic career played 39 First-Class matches, which fetched him 125 wickets. One of the fastest Indian bowlers- picked 10 for 152 against Kerala during the 1995-96 Ranji Trophy season. He also took 41 dismissals in 33 List A games for Karnataka between 1992-93 till 2001-02- that helped him break into the Indian side.
His Test debut was against Australia in a one-off Test in New Delhi in 1996. He dismissed Michael Slater in that game. Also against South Africa, playing only the first Test of that series, managed to take the wickets of Herschelle Gibbs and Brian McMillan.
Very suddenly, Johnson died after falling from his fourth-floor balcony in Bengaluru and the local police are suspicious that it was a case of suicide.
Several Indian cricketers including Sachin Tendulkar, grieved over the unexpected demise,
“Deeply saddened by the passing of my former teammate, David Johnson. He was full of life and never gave up on the field. My thoughts are with his friends and family,” Tendulkar wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Johnson’s state teammates Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble, also took to social media to pay their tribute.
“Shocked and sad to hear about the passing away of David Johnson. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Om Shanti,” Prasad wrote.
And Kumble in a heartfelt note wrote, “Saddened to hear the passing of my cricketing colleague David Johnson. Heartfelt condolences to his family. Gone too soon ‘Benny’!”
Gambhir, also condoled the untimely demise of the late cricketer, “Saddened by the passing away of David Johnson. May god give strength to his family and loved ones.”
Virender Sehwag also posted on X,
Also the BCCI secretary, Jay Shah consoled the former cricketer’s family,
After an impressive win at group stage matches, India now tops the points table of Super 8 in T20 World Cup 2024. On June 22, India will be clashing with Bangladesh.
Tabinda Mir is a writer from Kashmir. She is an English Honours graduate and her interests primarily dwell in poetry and sports writing. She likes to cover Cricket as an avid fan. Apart from sports, her other publications include articles, poems and a letter to summer in the book titled, “Under The Summer Skies”.
Also, her leisure time activities include reading novels, poetry, non literary works, philosophies and writing poetry, short stories, articles on diverse themes.
