Here's why Australian Players are wearing Black Armbands during Day 2 of 4th test vs IND

The fourth and final game of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy is currently underway at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After winning the toss, the Australian stand-in captain, Steve Smith, chose to bat first. They dominated the first game of the match.

However, on Friday, the Australian players were seen wearing black armbands. And they did so to pay tribute to skipper Pat Cummins' mother, Maria, who passed away in Sydney. She had been suffering from the illness for a long time, as she was diagnosed with breast cancer way back in 2005.

However, she had been fighting this disease for the last few weeks or so. Maria left everyone at home on Thursday night. It was Australian head coach Andrew McDonald informed about this tragic news to the players ahead of the start of the Day 2 of the fourth test.

In a statement released by Cricket Australia on Friday, "We are deeply saddened at the passing of Maria Cummins overnight. The Australian men's team will today wear black armbands as a mark of respect." 

Cummins led Australia in the first two tests of the series, which they lost. But ahead of the start of the third test in Indore, he left for Sydney to meet his mother. He was supposed to rejoin the team for the third test, which started on March 1. But he couldn't make it.

As a result, it was Steve Smith, who led the team. Australia beat Team India by nine wickets in the third test in Indore. That win also helped Australia qualify for the final of the ongoing World Test Championship 2021–23 in England in June.

On the other hand, India, which won the first two tests, needs one more to win. They must win the fourth test in Ahmedabad to make it to the WTC final. However, it is not looking easy as Australia is 347/4 at lunch on Day 2, with Usman Khawaja (150*) and Cameron Green (95*) going great.