Revealed: Why are India players wearing black armbands in CT 2025 semi-final vs Australia

India National Cricket Team and Australia National Cricket Team are up against each other in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The match between the two teams is taking place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday (4th March).

The India National Cricket Team players will be making a special gesture. The players will be wearing the black armbands in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This is to honour the late Shri Padmakar Shivalkar, who passed away Monday (3rd March).

In honour of the late Shri Padmakar Shivalkar, Team India is wearing black armbands today.

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 4, 2025

Padmakar Shivalkar was a stalwart of Indian domestic cricket

Padmakar Shivalkar was a stalwart of Indian domestic cricket. Playing for Mumbai, he played 124 first-class matches and picked 589 wickets at an outstanding average of 19.69. His best came in the final of the Ranji Trophy 1972–73, where he picked 8 for 16 and 5 for 18 in the 1972–73 to take his team to victory over Tamil Nadu.

Coming the match between India and Australia, skipper Rohit Sharma lost yet another toss, and it marked the 14th consecutive toss loss for the Men in Blue in ODIs. Steve Smith, who is leading Australia, opted to bat first on a pitch that seems very dry.

Ready to go, should be a good contest - Steve Smith

Australia National Cricket Team made two changes coming into the game. Cooper Connolly and Tanveer Sangha replaced the injured Matthew Short and Spencer Johnson in the XI. While talking about his decision to bat, Steve Smith said that they are fully prepared. He said:

"We'll have a bat. It looks like a pretty dry surface, a pretty dry square; we'd like to get some runs on the board. The guys had a couple of sessions at the academy, ready to go, should be a good contest. It looks a lot drier; it should take more turns.

"Very good side - India - and we like coming up against them. We are looking forward to it. We've got two changes. Cooper Connolly comes in for Short, Tanveer Sangha comes in for Spencer Johnson."

We have to bowl well and try and restrict them as less as possible - Rohit Sharma

India National Cricket, on the other hand, opted for the same XI that they had in the last game, going with four spinners. Rohit Sharma wasn't bothered by losing the toss as he mentioned that he was in two minds and it was better for him to lose the toss.

The India captain shared his take on the surface, saying that every pitch is different on the ground, adding that they want to continue the same form that they had in the last two games. He elaborated:

'I was prepared to do both. When you're in two minds, it's better to lose the toss. We've played three games here, and each time, it had something different in it. You can't really say this is how the pitch is going to play. The pitch keeps changing its nature. At the end of the day, you have to play good cricket and that's what we are focused on.

"We've played good cricket in all three games and that's what we'll look to do now. It's going to be challenging. The slower bowlers have come into play a lot, that's why we wanted same team. We played a couple of days back here, we want to continue from where we left. Now that we are bowling first, we have to bowl well and try and restrict them as less as possible."

Also read: Aiden Markram out of Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final! South Africa sends replacement!!