Virat Kohli gives India a glimmer of hope after Australia set daunting target

Where there is Virat Kohli there is hope. There are not many causes for Indian optimism as they chase a target of 444 but one of them ended the day unbeaten on 44, and for as long as he remains so will their belief. At stumps Mohammed Shami certainly seemed surprisingly relaxed as he smiled and declared: “We will win the match tomorrow.”

They are 164 for 3 overnight, with Kohli batting alongside Ajinkya Rahane, and must still score 280 if they are to win, on a ground where no Test side has ever successfully chased more than 262.

However bleak India’s position it was clear from the start of their innings there was no lack of belief, either in the stands or on the pitch, but in a run chase where they needed everything to go their way it took just over seven overs for them to receive conclusive evidence that it would not, as Shubman Gill fell victim to another spectacular diving catch by Cameron Green.

There was some doubt as to whether the ball had been grounded as Green fell to earth. This is the second Test to be played since the International Cricket Council stopped the use of soft signals and without any guidance the TV umpire, Richard Kettleborough, forced an extended delay while he watched the same few camera angles enough times to be absolutely certain that he had no idea what to do. “He could have taken more time,” Shami said. “It’s the World Test Championship final, not a normal game. He should have checked better, zoomed in.” Either decision would have been entirely understandable – in the end he just had to make one.

Gill trudged from the field to a chorus of “Cheat! Cheat! Cheat!” from the stands, and later tweeted a still picture of the ball apparently grounded, along with two magnifying glass emojis and a