Australia won the toss and decided to bat first in the Women’s World Cup semifinal against India in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, but the atmosphere at the stadium carried a solemn undertone as both teams took the field wearing black armbands in memory of Ben Austin. The gesture was a mark of respect for the late Ben Austin, a 17-year-old boy who died on Thursday after he was hit by a cricket ball during a practice session in Melbourne.His passing has shaken the cricket world. The black armbands symbolise the unity and empathy shared between the two cricketing nations beyond the contest on the field. Australia captain Alyssa Healy, who returned from injury to lead the side, said, “We are going to bat. Great conditions here and opportunity for us to put runs on the board. I am grateful for the opportunity to get that 10-day break for the rehab. It is a semi-final and it’s basically whoever plays better will get the result. Just one other change. Sophie Molineux comes in for Wareham.” India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her side’s determination ahead of the high-stakes clash. “We were looking to bat first, if we get early breakthrough that would be great for us. We know this pitch, we had so many camps here and also played our last 2 games here. Whenever we play Australia, we talk about going with a fearless mindset. Unfortunately, Pratika is not there because of her injury. Shafali comes in for her. Richa and Kranti are back for Uma and Harleen,” Kaur said. While the focus remains firmly on a thrilling semifinal clash between two cricketing powerhouses, the black armbands served as a poignant reminder that the spirit of the game extends far beyond boundaries and scoreboards. Both sides, united in grief, will look to honour Ben Austin with a performance worthy of his passion for the sport.India Women (Playing XI): Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Amanjot Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh(w), Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh ThakurAustralia Women (Playing XI): Phoebe Litchfield, Alyssa Healy(w/c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schut
