The BCCI confirm the reason behind the gesture which came as England resumed their first innings at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Saturday (February 17)
India's players are wearing black armbands on day three of the third Test in Rajkot in tribute to Dattajirao Gaekwad, who passed away earlier this week.
The country's oldest living Test cricketer at the time of his passing, Gaekwad was 95 when his death was confirmed on Tuesday (February 13).
In 11 Tests, the right-handed batter scored 350 runs at 18.42 with one fifty.
"#TeamIndia will be wearing black armbands in memory of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer who passed away recently," a BCCI statement read.
Gaekwad (left, centre) pictured speaking to Denis Compton (Keystone/Getty Images)
Gaekwad debuted against England at Headingley in 1952, captaining the team upon their return in 1959, before signing off his international career against Pakistan in Chennai nine years later.
Domestically, he captained Baroda to the Ranji Trophy in the 1957/58 season.
The tribute came as England resumed their first innings in reply to India's 445 all out.
Rohit Sharma's side took to the field reeling from the withdrawal from the third Test of spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who is seeing to a family emergency.
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