Team India batsmen really struggled on Day 3 of the World Test Championship (WTC 2021) final as the New Zealand bowlers got their side right back into the game. The subcontinental giants were all-out for 217 after starting Day 3 with 146 runs on the board at the loss of 3 wickets.

India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was one of them, who lost his wicket easily after doing all the hard work. The right-hand batsman played a half-hearted pull shot off Wagner and fell just one short of his half-century.

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar who was really disappointed with the Mumbai batsman’s soft dismissal said that the only reason for this poor shot must be that Rahane might have thought about getting to his 24th Test half-century.

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“Only explanation is that he was going for his fifty, he was looking to get a single to reach his milestone by a little dab on the onside. In the end, the ball bounced and he couldn’t control, in fact, the ball before that too he couldn’t control it,” Gavaskar said on commentary on Star Sports.

It was a great plan to dismiss India’s vice-captain Rahane as New Zealand skipper set up a nice trap and left-arm quick Neil Wagner executed it to perfection that left the 33-year-old in dismay.

Having 7 wickets in the kitty and 146 runs on the board, Team India appeared to be in control as the Virat Kohli and Co. were eyeing to get 250 on the board in the first innings. But the Kiwi pacers showed great discipline and eventually got India all-out for just 217 runs.

After bowlers, New Zealand batters also played really well as they ended day 3 on 101/2.

(With Star Sports Inputs)