Here's why Indian cricketers put black armbands

Just before the start of the day's play, the Indian players, led by Virat Kohli, were seen wearing black armbands in memory of the departed former prime minister and ex-skipper.

Indian cricketers took the field against England with black armbands on the first day of the third Test. It represented a mark of respect to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and ex-captain Ajit Wadekar, who passed away earlier this week.

Just before the start of the day's play, the Indian players, led by Virat Kohli, were seen wearing black armbands in memory of the departed former prime minister and ex-skipper.

"The Indian Cricket Team is wearing black armbands as a mark of respect to former India captain Shri Ajit Wadekar and former India Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away recently," the BCCI tweeted.

The Indian Cricket Team is wearing black armbands as a mark of respect to former India captain Shri Ajit Wadekar and former India Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away recently. pic.twitter.com/vXMEFyODuy

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 18, 2018

Wadekar, who passed away on August 15, led India to their first away series victory in West Indies and England in 1971, died in Mumbai on August 15 after a prolonged illness. He was 77.

Former PM Vajpayee, who was admitted in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, took his last breathe on August 16.