WTC 2025 Final: Australia and South Africa Players Pay Tribute To Ahmedabad Plane Crash Victims

Before the start of the World Test Championship (WTC) final day 3 at Lord's, Australia and South Africa players paid tribute to people who lost their lives on Thursday in a tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. The teams observed a minute of silence to honour the 241 lives lost in the Air India accident. Players and officials wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

Matthew Hayden, a former Australian opener recently inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, rang the bell at Lord's to signal five minutes before play commenced. Following this, players from both teams gathered on the field for the moment of silence. This gesture was part of their tribute to those affected by the tragedy.

Plane Crash Details

The Air India flight, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived. The official passenger list included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the sole survivor of this devastating crash. He was seated in seat 11A near an emergency exit in the economy section when the incident occurred. His survival amidst such a catastrophic event is nothing short of miraculous.

WTC Final Highlights

The WTC final between Australia and South Africa has been intense, with both teams vying for victory. Australia had a first-innings lead of 74 but faltered in their second innings, finding themselves at 73/7. However, Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc managed a crucial partnership of 61 runs for the eighth wicket.

Bowlers have dominated this match so far. On both Day 1 and Day 2, a total of 14 wickets fell as batsmen struggled with challenging conditions at Lord's. Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins stood out as top performers after each team's first innings concluded.