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Why Are Indian Players Wearing Black Armbands In Champions Trophy Semi-Final Vs AUS?

Sakshi Sharma

Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith (Source:AP)Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith (Source:AP)

In the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal between India and Australia in Dubai, the Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma was seen wearing a black armband as he took the field for the toss. This gesture was a tribute to the late Padmakar Shivalkar, the legendary left-arm spinner who passed away on March 3, 2025.  

Ahead of the high-stakes clash, Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and opted to bat first. India, led by Rohit Sharma, fielded an unchanged XI, while Australia made two changes-bringing in Cooper Connolly and Tanveer Sangha in place of Spencer Johnson and Matthew Short.  

Why The Indian Team Is Wearing A Black Arm Band?

The reason behind Indian team wearing armband is to pay concodelence and hommage to unfortunate demises of Padmakar Shivalkar. 

Shivalkar was renowned for his exceptional bowling skills, particularly his control over line and length and his ability to generate sharp turn even on unresponsive pitches. Despite never getting an opportunity to play for India at the international level, he was widely respected as one of the finest spinners in Indian cricket history. It is important to mention that his contributions to Mumbai cricket were immense, and his legacy as a mentor remains unparalleled.  

IND vs AUS: The Biggest Rivalry

The match marks the first ODI encounter between India and Australia since the World Cup 2023 final, where Australia clinched the title. India, however, have been in dominant form in this tournament, remaining unbeaten in the group stage with victories over Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. 

Meanwhile, Australia had a mixed run, winning just one match against England, with their fixtures against South Africa and Afghanistan being abandoned due to rain.