Following a challenging day on the field, Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane expressed his optimism despite suffering a blow to his finger during the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia. Rahane, who sustained the injury while fielding, stated that although it was painful, he believes it won’t significantly impact his batting performance. The Indian vice-captain expressed satisfaction with his own batting display on Day 3, highlighting the team’s overall performance as well.
Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian team displayed a marked improvement in their second innings after a lackluster performance with the ball in the first innings. Despite early setbacks for the Australian team, India’s bowlers managed to keep the pressure on their opponents. The dismissals of key batsmen David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, and Travis Head contributed to Australia’s challenges. However, by the end of Day 3, Australia had lost four wickets but still scored 123 runs with Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green at the crease, maintaining their overall advantage in the match.
The day began with a setback for Australia as Scott Boland dismissed Indian opener Abhimanyu Easwaran with only the second ball. Australia aimed to swiftly wrap up India’s innings, but dropped catches and a no-ball from Pat Cummins nullifying an LBW decision allowed Rahane and Shardul Thakur to form a resilient partnership. Despite a precarious position at 152/6, India managed to avoid the follow-on and approached the 300-run mark. Australia gained a significant first innings lead of 173 runs, but India’s lower-order fight showcased their determination to stay in the game.
As the day progressed, Australia had an opportunity to consolidate their advantage and further dominate the match. However, India’s disciplined bowling, led by Mohammed Siraj’s early dismissal of Warner, limited Australia’s scoring opportunities. Labuschagne and Green adopted a defensive approach, struggling to add runs to the scoreboard. Khawaja fell victim to a wide delivery from Umesh Yadav, resulting in his dismissal. Steve Smith’s positive batting provided impetus to Australia’s scoring rate, but Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him with a well-executed delivery. Jadeja continued to impress, claiming the wicket of centurion Travis Head by exploiting the rough patches on the pitch. Labuschagne and Green managed to avoid any further setbacks, holding their ground until stumps.
Australia’s commanding lead of 296 runs on a deteriorating pitch positions them as clear favorites to win the final. However, Rahane emphasized the importance of being in the moment and playing session by session. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence that India’s fighting spirit could lead to unexpected turnarounds in the match. While the odds may be against them, India’s improved second innings performance showcased their resilience and determination to compete.
