'If India don't get them before 400-420, it's going to be a real hard work' - Dinesh Karthik shares his thoughts ahead of Day 2 of WTC final

Team India faltered on the opening day of the ICC World Test Championship final on Wednesday as Australia, who were asked to bat by skipper Rohit Sharma at the toss, accumulated a good enough score of 327/3.

By virtue of Travis Head's 106-ball century and Steve Smith's half-century at The Oval on Day 1, Australia absolutely outperformed team India. After the Pat Cummins-led side was reduced to 76/3 in the second session of Day 1, the pair built a crucial partnership for the fourth wicket. India started the day on a strong note as speedster Mohammed Siraj packed Usman Khawaja for nought in the first session.

Opener David Warner and batter Marnus Labuschagne then got together and added 69 runs for the second wicket before the Aussie southpaw fell for 43 (60). Early in the second session, Mohammed Shami dismissed Labuschagne (26), but Smith and Head ensured sure that Australia was still on the verge of amassing a massive total in the first innings. Australia reached 327/3 in 85 overs on Day 1 of the WTC final at The Oval owing to Head and Smith's stunning partnership of 251. 

Reflecting on the chain of events that transpired on Day 1, Dinesh Karthik has said that India need to take early wickets on Day 2 to keep Australia in check.

India needs to take three early wickets in the opening session in order to get back: Karthik 

“If India need to come back in the game, make no mistake, there's only chance is if they pick 3 early wickets in first session. If they don't do that, we will be way behind. Immediately, we will start looking at draw as a win. Australia has a long batting lineup, if you don't get them before 400-420, it's going to be a real hard work,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.

India and Australia are competing for the greatest prize in Test cricket as they face off in the second-ever World Test Championship Final. The one-off Test match has a reserve day in place in case there is a lot of play lost during the first five days.