WTC Final 2023: Team India were finally bowled out for 296 runs in the first inning after an excellent fightback from Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur on Day 3 of the final of the World Test Championship 2023. After dismissing Australia for 469 runs, India started poorly. None of their top-order batters reached the 20-run mark. Rohit Sharma (15), Shubman Gil (13), Virat Kohli (14), and Cheteshwar Pujara (14) all got out cheaply.
But Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja added 71 runs for the fifth wicket. Jadeja got out after scoring a well-made 48 off 51. KS Bharat could not do anything and scored just five runs. But then Shardul and Rahane added 109 runs for the seventh wicket, which helped India avoid the follow-on. But the Indian team got all out for 286 runs. Rahane missed his century by 11 runs and scored 89 runs with 11 fours and one six. Thakur scored his third fifty on the trot at the Oval. He made 51 with six boundaries.
WTC Final 2023: Twitter reacts to India getting all out for 296 runs after Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur fighting back
India lost Bharat on the second ball of Day 3, and it looked like India would get all out before the follow-on. But it was an excellent fightback, and India saved the follow-on. Though India gave Australia a massive first-inning lead of 173 runs, the Indian bowlers need to do something special to restrict Australia to under 200. Or else, it will be impossible for India to come back into the game. Fans also praised the efforts of Rahane and Thakur to help India come close to 300 in the first inning of the final.
Who won the inaugural World Test Championship 2021?
New Zealand beat India in the WTC Final 2021 to win the inaugural edition of the tournament.