The 2025 World Test Championship final (WTC final 2025) between defending champions Australia and South Africa is heading towards a thrilling end on Day 3 at Lord’s.

With the match hanging in the balance, the third day of the Test match began with players from both sides, wearing black armbands to mourn the loss of lives in the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad.

© X/ICC

A London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Ahmedabad, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed shortly after takeoff in a residential area, adding to the death toll from one of the worst mishaps in the aviation industry.

Out of the 242 people on board, only one man has miraculously survived and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

The Indian players and support staff members, who are in England preparing for the upcoming five-Test series, also wore black armbands and observed a minute of silence ahead of the intra-squad match, paying homage to people who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash.

© X/mufaddalvohra

Tata Group that owns Air India has announced a ₹ 1 crore compensation to the next of kin of people who lost their loves in the crash. The conglomerate also announced to take care of the medical expenses of the injured undergoing treatment in various hospitals.

Meanwhile, after a spirited bowling performance in Australia’s second innings, the Proteas brought themselves back into the match and kept their hopes of winning the top silbverware alive. However, they would be cursing themselves that had the opportunity to bury the game, having reduced Australia to 73 for 7 in the second innings.