Punjab Kings players entered the field with black bands on their arms. Indian Premier League Clash Against 2026 Rajasthan Royals Tuesday, paying tribute to the late mother of a teammate. Azmatullah Omarzai.The Afghanistan all-rounder suffered a personal loss earlier this week, with news of his mother passing away on Monday. While Umarzai has yet to feature in a match this season, he remains a part of the Punjab squad, and the gesture from the franchise highlighted the sense of unity within the camp.Live Score: PBKS vs RR, IPL 2026The team stands in solidarity.Captain Punjab Shreyas Iyer The team expressed their condolences on the toss, highlighting the emotional reason behind the tribute. “On behalf of the entire team, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Azmat and his family for their loss. I am sure we are here to support them in every way we can,” he said.The gesture was a mark of respect, with all XI players wearing black armbands as a sign of mourning – a long-standing tradition in sports to honor the deceased.Omarzai also received support from the wider cricket community. Afghanistan teammates Mohammad Nabi and Karim Jannat shared heartfelt messages offering prayers and strength to the bereaved family.The emotional background of a high-scoring contestDespite the sensational context, Punjab put up a strong performance with the bat, posting an impressive 222/4 in their 20 overs. The late onslaught, which scored 55 runs in the last three overs, swung the momentum firmly in their favour.Earlier, the openers took advantage of the contrasting lines from Rajasthan’s pace attack to provide a brisk start. While Jofra Archer tested the batsmen with pace and bounce, the hosts capitalized at the death, with a blistering cameo to ensure a commanding total.25-year-old Umarzai is considered a talented all-rounder, having represented Gujarat Titans before joining Punjab. Throughout his IPL career, he has contributed both with bat and ball and is a valuable member of the squad.
