Team India were totally outplayed by Australia in the first two days of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 Final at The Oval.
In reply to Australia’s first innings total of 469, the Rohit Sharma-led side was reeling at 151/5 at sumps on Day 2, with Ajinkya Rahane and KS Bharat unbeaten in the middle.
The third day’s play started on a negative note for India as Bharat failed to add a run to his overnight tally and was dismissed by Scott Boland for 5.
Amid the pressure situation, Shardul Thakur joined Rahane in the middle and the duo displayed immense resolve and grit to steady the ship.
Both of them took multiple body blows and called for the physio on many occasions but didn’t get their guard down. After two hours of grind, Rahane and Thakur took India to 260 for 6 at Lunch on Day 3.
In the post-lunch session, Australia skipper Pat Cummins broke the 109-run stand between Rahane and Thakur by dismissing the former for 89, courtesy a brilliant catch from Cameron Green at gully.
Shardul Thakur continued the fight for a few more overs and completed his half-century with a boundary off Cummins in the 68th over. However, he fell soon after reaching the milestone as Green dismissed him for 51.
Pacer Mohammad Shami contributed crucial 13 runs before getting out as India’s first innings eventually folded for 296, conceding a healthy first-innings lead of 173 runs to Australia.
For their great show of determination against a ferocious Australian attack, Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur received rich praise from the cricket fraternity on Twitter.
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