WTC 2023 Final: Mohammad Shami “one hundred percent” confident of India’s victory on Day 5

India need 280 runs to win the WTC final on Day 5 with seven wickets in hand.

Mohammad Shami | GettyVeteran pacer Mohammad Shami believes India will return to The Oval for the fifth day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 Final with absolute confidence that they can win the match.

Chasing 444 to win, India were 164/3 at the close of play on Day 4, with Virat Kohli (44*) and Ajinkya Rahane (20*) unbeaten in the middle.

On the fifth and final day, India need 280 more runs while Australia have to take the remaining seven wickets to clinch the WTC title.

“One hundred percent everyone believes that tomorrow we will win the match,” Shami told reporters after the fourth day’s play.

“We always fight, we perform well around the world. So we believe and we will all come together to win this match.”

During the tour of Australia in 2020-21, India managed to draw the Sydney Test and win the Brisbane Test while chasing a huge target in the fourth innings. However, Shami isn’t reading too much into it.

“It doesn't matter what happened in Sydney or Brisbane, we are playing here. We have to think about tomorrow and we will win the match," he added.

“I believe that the Test match should go until the fifth day and maybe until the last session. That's the real test. So we have to bat well and they have to bowl well to save themselves.”

According to Shami, if rest of the batters play properly then knocking off the remaining 280 runs shouldn’t be a big task.

“If you bat well, 280 runs is not a big score. So I think you should bat normally as a Test match; focus on playing ball by ball. You should not look at the long target. When you keep small goals and targets, you will get more success.”

If needed, Shami is ready to hit the winning runs for India. “Yes, I am always ready,” the lower-order batter said. “Especially in England, there is a need to make partnerships. I think everyone can bat in today's Indian team cricket and, hopefully, we will win tomorrow.”

(With ICC Inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 11 Jun, 2023

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