Punjab Kings players wore black bands on their hands in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

New Delhi: Saturday was not just a struggle for runs and wickets at the Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. This exciting match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings started with a very emotional scene. When the Punjab Kings players came on the field after the toss, the black bands tied on everyone’s arms attracted everyone’s attention. This black stripe was not a sign of mourning for any defeat, but a symbol of sympathy and solidarity towards those families who lost their loved ones in the horrific boat accident that happened in Vrindavan.

The recent tragic boat accident in Vrindavan has shocked the entire country. This untoward incident at a holy place left many happy and cheerful families heartbroken. The Punjab Kings franchise behaved not just like a professional team but like a responsible community in these difficult times. Even before the start of the match, it was made clear by the franchise that the team will wear black bands in today’s match to show respect to all those who have been affected by this tragedy. The franchise conveyed that they stand strongly with the bereaved families and the entire community in this hour of grief.

Often we look at tournaments like IPL only through the lens of glamour, money and entertainment. But on April 11, on the ground of Mullanpur, the players of Punjab Kings proved that the world of sports is not cut off from the outside world. When players like Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh came out to bowl and field wearing that black band on their jersey, the message reached millions of fans that life is worth more than the results of the game. For the spectators present on the ground and the millions of fans watching the match on TV, this moment was a sobering reminder that amidst the glamor of cricket, humanity comes first.