IPL 2026: Why Punjab Kings wore black armbands against Rajasthan Royals

Players of Punjab Kings took the tract wearing achromatic armbands during their Indian Premier League 2026 clash against Rajasthan Royals connected Tuesday, paying tribute to the precocious parent of teammate Azmatullah Omarzai.The Afghanistan all-rounder suffered a idiosyncratic nonaccomplishment earlier this week, with quality of his mother’s passing emerging connected Monday.

While Omarzai has not yet featured successful a lucifer this season, helium remains portion of the Punjab squad, and the franchise’s motion underlined the consciousness of unity wrong the camp.Live Score: PBKS vs RR, IPL 2026Team stands successful solidarityPunjab skipper

Shreyas Iyer

expressed the team’s condolences astatine the toss, highlighting the affectional crushed down the tribute. “On behalf of the full team, I conscionable privation to stock our heartfelt condolences to Azmat and his household for his loss. I’m definite we are determination to enactment him done heavy and thin,” helium said.The motion was a people of respect, with players crossed the XI wearing achromatic armbands arsenic a motion of mourning — a long-standing contented successful athletics to honour the departed.Support for Omarzai besides poured successful from the wider cricketing fraternity. Fellow Afghanistan players Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat shared heartfelt messages, offering prayers and spot to the grieving family.Emotional backdrop to high-scoring contestDespite the sombre context, Punjab produced a beardown show with the bat, posting an imposing 222/4 successful their 20 overs.

A precocious onslaught, which saw 55 runs travel disconnected the last 3 overs, shifted momentum firmly successful their favour.Earlier, the openers provided a brisk start, taking vantage of inconsistent lines from Rajasthan’s gait attack. While Jofra Archer tested the batters with gait and bounce, the hosts capitalised astatine the death, with a blistering cameo ensuring a commanding total.Omarzai, 25, is regarded arsenic a promising all-rounder, having antecedently represented Gujarat Titans earlier joining Punjab. Across his IPL career, helium has contributed with some bat and shot and remains a valued subordinate of the squad.