India vs England: India Captain Virat Kohli Condoles Demise Of Ajit Wadekar And Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Virat Kohli is currently leading the Indian cricket team in the ongoing five-Test series in England.

India skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday paid tributes to former Indian cricket team captain Ajit Wadekar and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who both passed away in a span of 24 hours.

Taking to Twitter, Kohli said, “A sombre day for us as we mourn the loss of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji and Legendary Indian Captain Ajit Wadekar sir. May your souls rest in peace. India and its millions will always remember you fondly.”

A sombre day for us as we mourn the loss of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji and Legendary Indian Captain Ajit Wadekar sir. May your souls rest in peace. India and its millions will always remember you fondly. 🙏🏻

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) August 16, 2018

Kohli is currently leading the team in the ongoing five-Test series in England. Earlier in the day, the cricket team observed a two-minute silence at the Trent Bridge Cricket Stadium in Nottingham–where they will face England in the third test—to condole the sad demise of Wadekar.

Wadekar, the first captain to lead India to Test series wins in England and the West Indies, passed away at 77 in Mumbai yesterday after prolonged illness. Rated as one of the world’s finest batsmen and a great human being, Wadekar will always be remembered for his contribution to the Indian cricket.

He scored 2,113 runs in his Test career, including one hundred, and went on to become the chairman of selectors as well. Wadekar is the only cricketer apart from Lala Amarnath and Chandu Borde to have served as captain, manager, and selector in Indian cricket.

Also on Thursday, 93-year-old Vajpayee died after battling prolonged illness at AIIMS in New Delhi. Confirming the news, the hospital in a statement said, “It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at 05: 05 pm on 16.08.2018.”

Vajpayee was taken to the hospital on June 11 from his residence on doctor’s advice for a routine check-up in the afternoon. AIIMS director and a pulmonologist Randeep Guleria was keeping an eye on Vajpayee’s health. For over three decades, Guleria had served as personal physician to Vajpayee.

Various sports personalities took to their social media accounts to condole the demise of the former prime minister.