Watch: India Star KS Bharat Struck By Nasty Blow From Mitchell Starc's Fast Delivery In WTC Final

09.06.2023 - 05:45 sports.ndtv.com

Steve Smith scored his 31st Test century before Australia captain Pat Cummins sparked India's collapse in the World Test Championship final on Thursday.

Smith, 95 not out overnight, followed team-mate Travis Head in going to three figures with 121 in a first-innings total of 469 at The Oval.

Fast bowler Cummins, in his 50th Test, then removed opposing skipper Rohit Sharma to initiate India's second-day slump. Ajinkya Rahane (29 not out), struck some painful blows on the glove, held firm with Ravindra Jadeja (48) after India had been reduced to 71-4.

But India were 151-5 at stumps, a huge deficit of 318 runs. Rahane and KS Bharat, who copped a nasty blow from Mitchell Starc in the last over, were the two unbeaten batters at the crease at stumps. Watch: India Star Struck By Nasty Blow From Mitchell Starc's Fast Delivery A post shared by ICC (@icc) Rohit was plumb lbw for 15 to a full-length ball from Cummins, who had close figures of 1-36 in nine overs.

cricket Australia Cricket Team India Cricket Team watch Pat Cummins Scott Boland Cameron Green Mitchell Starc Steve Smith Rohit Sharma Australia India Mitchell

Team India has been subjected to severe criticism ever-since they lost against Australia in the World Test Championship final on Sunday at The Oval. The Rohit Sharma-led side was bundled out for 234 while chasing 444 after Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland broke the backbone of India's batting order. Many fans and experts raised questions at the poor display of batting and bowling from Team India but former batter Mohammad Kaif pointed out that the team also needs to work on their slip fielding.

IND vs AUS, WTC Final, Day 4: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane Keep India In Hunt; Rohit Sharma And Co. Need 280 To Beat Australia

Virat Kohli remained undefeated on 44 as India reached 164 for 3 at stumps on fourth day after Australia set a huge 444-run target in the final of the World Test Championship on Saturday. Kohli and first innings hero Ajinkya Rahane (20 batting) added 71 runs for the fourth wicket as India need to score 280 runs in 90 overs on the final day. Shubman Gill (18), skipper Rohit Sharma (43) and Cheteshwar Pujara (27) were the Indian batters dismissed.

Watch: Shubman Gill's Contentious Dismissal That Had The Internet Abuzz During WTC Final

Australia set India a record 444-run target on a tricky pitch after Alex Carey propped up their second innings total to 270 for eight before declaring midway into the afternoon session. India kept things tight in the morning but Carey (66 not off 105) and Mitchell Starc (51 off 47) showed aggressive intent to share a 93-run stand off 120 balls for the seventh wicket. They collected 69 valuable runs off 87 balls before Pat Cummins declared the innings after his own dismissal.

Shubman Gill Out Or Not Out? Internet Erupts Over Star's Contentious Catch In WTC Final. Video

After Australia set India a record 444-run target on a tricky pitch at the World Test Championship final at The Oval on Saturday, there was huge uproar on social media over the dismissal of Shubman Gill. India started the humongous chase on a strong footing, but at the stroke of tea, Scott Boland got one to bounce little extra from length and it flew from ball the shoulder of Gill's bat only to be lapped up by a diving Cameron Green at gully. It was the second time in the game that Green took a screamer though replay suggested it was a close call with the ball very close to the ground.

WTC Final, India vs Australia: What Is The Highest Successful Chase In Tests?

India have been set a daunting 444-run target by Australia in the final of the World Test Championship final at The Oval on Saturday. Australia declared the second innings on 270/8. If India chased down the target, it will be the highest-ever successful chase in the history of Test cricket. Before this match, the highest successful chase happened in 2003 when West Indies chased down a 418-run target against Australia. The highest successful run chase by India happened in 1976 when the team chased down a 403-run target against West Indies.

"This Is A Message To The Top Order...": Sourav Ganguly Delivers Verdict On Indian Cricket Team At WTC Final

Former Indian cricket team skipper Sourav Ganguly was all praise for Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur for their resilient performance but he also took a sly dig at the top-order batters on Day 3 of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at The Oval on Friday. India were all out for 296 in their first innings but both batters scored half-centuries to keep them in the game. Ganguly said that they showed it to the dressing room how to bat on the surface and this can be seen as a "message to the top order".