The final of the World Test Championship is being played between India and Australia at the Oval in London. Batting first, the Kangaroos scored a mammoth score of 469 runs in their first innings. In reply, Team India got off to a bad start. India had lost four wickets for 71 runs at one time in their first innings. These four wickets belonged to the four players of Team India who were responsible for making the team the champion – Captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.
However, all four failed and the entire responsibility rested on the shoulders of Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja, who are returning to the team after several months. Jadeja was dismissed after scoring 48 runs, but Rahane remained on the field. Rahane batted bravely in front of an Australian bowling line-up comprising of bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Cameron Green and took India to a respectable total.Ajinkya Rahane in agony after a blow to his hand, Australia vs India, WTC final, third day, The Oval, London, June 9, 2023
Rahane was hurt several times during the innings -
Rahane also got hurt during the innings. Sometimes on the fingers and sometimes on the arm, he continued to suffer injuries, also suffered pain, but still kept fighting. Rahane was out of the team in January last year. He was dropped from the team after the Test series against South Africa. He was not included in the squad for the home Test series against Sri Lanka in January-February last year. After this, he directly joined the Indian team for the final of the World Test Championship. What did they not have to endure during this period? His name was not included in the BCCI's central contract for this year.
Haven't been able to score a century since December 2020 -
Rahane has not scored a century in international cricket since December 2020, nor played any big innings before returning in the WTC final. Since December 2020, he was able to score only three half-centuries in Tests till he was dropped from the team last year. He had to bear the brunt of this. However, as soon as he returned, he not only scored a half-century but also saved the Indian team from playing the follow-on. Playing with Chennai Super Kings in IPL also proved to be important for Rahane. Riding on the confidence he got from some good innings there, Rahane played a brilliant 89 on a World Test Championship final-like stage.
Important partnerships with Jadeja and Shardul -
After falling for four wickets for 71 runs, Rahane first played an important partnership of 71 runs with Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja got out after scoring 48 runs. After this, Rahane completed the 26th half-century of his Test career. Also shared a 109-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Shardul Thakur. It seemed that Rahane would end the drought of centuries running since December 2020. To save the follow-on, Team India had to score 269 runs and Rahane-Shardul together took Team India to 261 runs. Then Rahane was dismissed by Pat Cummins.
Important partnerships with Jadeja and Shardul
After falling for four wickets for 71 runs, Rahane first played an important partnership of 71 runs with Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja got out after scoring 48 runs. After this, Rahane completed the 26th half-century of his Test career. Also shared a 109-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Shardul Thakur. It seemed that Rahane would end the drought of centuries running since December 2020. To save the follow-on, Team India had to score 269 runs and Rahane-Shardul together took Team India to 261 runs. Then Rahane was dismissed by Pat Cummins.
On the last ball of the 62nd over of the Indian innings, Cummins got Rahane caught in the street. However, his luck was bad here and the ball stuck in the hands of fielder Cameron Green. Rahane came as India's troubleshooter. Former captain Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh, doing commentary, have described Rahane's innings as more than a century. This innings of Rahane has also given a slap on the face of those critics who were questioning him. This innings will definitely give life to his career.
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