IND vs AUS: Why Indian Players Are Wearing Black Armbands – CT 2025
Tribute to Padmakar Shivalkar
In the exciting Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final in Dubai, India faced Australia. Indian captain Rohit Sharma and his team wore black armbands. This gesture honored Padmakar Shivalkar, the famous left-arm spinner who died on March 3, 2025.
Shivalkar never played for India internationally, but he is still one of the best spinners in Indian cricket history. His control over line and length was excellent. He could also generate sharp turn. This made him a standout performer in domestic cricket. He made huge contributions to Mumbai cricket. He was also a respected mentor in the cricket community.
IND vs AUS: Toss & Team Changes
Ahead of this high-stakes encounter, Australian captain Steven Smith won the toss and elected to bat first.
India Playing XI (Unchanged):
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Axar Patel
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Mohammed Shami
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Varun Chakaravarthy
Australia Playing XI (Two Changes):
- Travis Head
- Cooper Connolly
- Steven Smith (c)
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Josh Inglis (wk)
- Alex Carey
- Glenn Maxwell
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Nathan Ellis
- Adam Zampa
- Tanveer Sangha
Australia made two important changes. Cooper Connolly and Tanveer Sangha joined the team, replacing Spencer Johnson and Matthew Short.
IND vs AUS: A Fierce Rivalry Renewed
This semi-final is the first ODI clash between India and Australia since the 2023 World Cup final. In that match, Australia won. India has been strong in the Champions Trophy 2025. They stayed unbeaten in the group stage, winning against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand.
Australia had a mixed campaign. They won only one match against England. Their games against South Africa and Afghanistan were called off because of rain.
As the match unfolds, both teams will be eager to secure a spot in the final, adding another chapter to this iconic cricket rivalry.