India’s top-order collapse isn’t a rare sight anymore. Over the past couple of years, it has been the lower order that has bailed the Indian outfit on a number of occasions. Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer have played crucial knocks in recent wins, but India will be without the trio with one dismissed and two unavailable. With Ajinkya Rahane in tow alongside a bruised Srikar Bharat, Rohit Sharma’s side eyes the impossible: Can India still win the WTC Final? Or can the Men in Blue play long enough to force a draw?
At Stumps on Day 2 of the World Test Championship Final, Australia can be bullish of thinking their job is done. India trail by a massive 318 runs with just 5 wickets in hand. To put it into perspective, India needs a further 118 just to avoid following on in ‘The Ultimate Test’. The Australians have completely blown away the Indian batting order with only Rahane and Jadeja providing some stability. With a minimum of 270 overs left to decide the winner, it seems like Pat Cummins and Co are favourites unless their opponents can pull off a miracle.
IND vs AUS: Can India still win the WTC Final?
Stranger things have happened in cricket. Should Rahane, KS Bharat and Shardul Thakur add some runs which the top order couldn’t, India could well be within a shout. Day 3 at The Oval is one of the best batting wickets in the UK, and India’s lower order would hope to put up a fight. Some of India’s great performances in recent times have come with their backs against the wall. Rahane was at the centre of India’s unlikely Border Gavaskar Trophy win in 2020-21 Down Under.
The then-India captain had smashed a century at the MCG, his last innings of substance before his loss of form and subsequent sacking. Now fate has brought the Mumbaikar back into the set-up with Shreyas Iyer injured. The veteran looked in good touch and will be keen to show he still has what it takes. Shardul scored twin fifties in his last Test here at The Oval. The team management will hope that Bharat can bring in some of Rishabh Pant’s spirit in him.
In 15 out of 32 innings in the #WTC 2021-23 cycle, India's No.6 has come in to bat with the score less than 100.#WTCFinal2023
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) June 8, 2023
The task at hand is difficult even if India significantly reduces Australia’s potential lead. The Aussies are 318 ahead heading into Day 3 and look well set to have a 200+ buffer when batting second. Cummins is unlikely to enforce the follow-on, especially against a team that is coached by Rahul Dravid. In likelihood, India will have an impossible chase on a Day 4-Day 5 wicket. Batting will be more difficult with cracks already on the surface.
London weather to India’s rescue?
There is no tiebreaker in the WTC Final meaning a draw could see both teams share the Test mace. While a win looks far-fetched for Rohit and Co, a draw seems a real possibility. Those hopes are further encouraged by the inclement weather in London. As per AccuWeather.com, there is a prediction for rainfall on Day 4 and Day 5 at The Oval. There is also a yellow warning issued for thunderstorms.
Time is of the essence and Rohit Sharma and his side won’t mind taking it out of the contest. There is a reserve day should there be a significant loss of play. India will have their fingers crossed for the weather to play the game into their hands. Post that a 4th innings survival against Australia is not an uncommon feat for the Indians. Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin were the architects as India snatched a draw at Sydney in the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy. Only Pujara is present amongst the quartet, and he will hope that miracles have a second calling.
Australia has only lost 4 times after scoring 400+ runs batting first in a Test match. Unfortunately for them, all four instances have come against the Men in Blue. One of those instances came back in 2003 when Rahul Dravid slammed a double century at Adelaide to take his team to victory. Ajit Agarkar had picked up a 6-fer to help bowl the Aussies out for 196 in the second innings. Dravid then the hero will hope that his current guard stands up with the stakes as high as possible.
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The post Can India still win WTC Final or force a draw? Rohit Sharma’s side aim miracle first appeared on Inside Sport India.
The post Can India still win WTC Final or force a draw? Rohit Sharma’s side aim miracle appeared first on Inside Sport India.
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