WTC Final: Day 4 Talking Points – Kohli, Rahane hold Indian hopes high

The World Test Championship Final between India and Australia witnessed another gripping day of Test cricket. Spirited Indian batting performance took the game into the fifth and final day. Virat Kohli and first innings’ hero Ajinkya Rahane are still at the crease, chasing Australia’s mammoth total.

It was India who started the day on a bright note after dismissing Marnus Labuschagne in the early stages of the morning session. However, Cameron Green and Alex Carey’s partnership thwarted the Indian bowlers to a great measure, adding to Australia’s remarkable lead.

Despite Green’s departure, Australia managed to pocket a sizeable lead, thanks to a belligerent partnership between Carey and Mitchell Starc. Chasing a daunting target of 444 runs, India made a decent start only to lose Gill to a controversial catch. Rohit Sharma dazzled with a breezy innings, but his dismissal, followed by Cheteshwar Pujara’s demise, deflated the Indians.

Here are the Talking points from Day 4:

1. Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc activate the afterburners

India fought valiantly in the first session of the fourth day and were successful in keeping a check on the scoring rate. However, Starc and Carey took apart the Indian bowlers after the break, adding 93 runs in 120 deliveries to deflate the Asian giants.

2. Green’s controversial catch

India were off to a brisk start in their pursuit of Australia’s mammoth total with skipper Rohit Sharma looking in decent touch. However, catastrophe struck after Cameron Green grabbed a stunning catch to dismiss Shubman Gill. Although the replays suggested that the ball might have touched the ground. The third umpire gave the young Indian opener his marching orders, agitating the crowd at The Oval.

3. A glimmer of hope for the Indians

It was all doom and gloom when Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara departed in the space of just five deliveries. But former Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane joined hands at the crease to withstand the Aussie pressure in the final session. Both batters have looked in sublime touch so far, raising hopes of Indian fans all around the globe.