WTC 2023 Final: Ajinkya Rahane survives lbw scare, gets extra life as Pat Cummins oversteps

Ajinkya Rahane survives. (Photo Source: Disney+Hotstar)

India are in all sorts of trouble in the ongoing WTC Final 2023 against Australia at The Oval, London. The Rohit Sharma-led side are reeling at 88/4 after 22 overs in the third session. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli are all back in the hut with Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease.

During the third session of the day, Ajinkya Rahane got a reprieve as he was given out lbw against Pat Cummins on the field. However, the 35-year-old reviewed the decision and the ball turned out to be an illegal delivery as Cummins had overstepped. As a result, the decision was overturned and Rahane continued his innings.

Earlier in the innings, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were looking in good touch as they added 23 runs in the first five overs. However, the momentum quickly shifted to Australia as captain Pat Cummins trapped his Indian counterpart Rohit Sharma in front of the stumps to give India their first blow.

Gill also followed his captain as he misjudged an incoming delivery from Scott Boland in the very next over and lost his stumps, leaving India on 30/2. Cheteshwar Pujara also got out in a similar fashion leaving an incoming delivery from Cameron Green. 

Australia further got the big fish in the form of Virat Kohli as he edged a vicious bouncing delivery against Mitchell Starc straight to Steve Smith at second slip leaving India reeling at 71/4.

Mohammed Siraj was India’s pick of the bowlers

Earlier in the first innings, Australia posted a massive score of 469 courtesy of magnificent hundreds from Smith (121) and Travis Head (163). The duo put on a massive 285-run stand for the fourth wicket after Australia were reeling at 76/3 in the second session. Mohammed Siraj was the pick of the bowlers for India with his spell of (4/108) in 28.3 overs while Mohammed Shami (2/122) and Shardul Thakur (2/83) picked up two wickets each.