Pictures of the week: From India's batting woes to Australia's WTC Final triumph

The World Test Championship Final between India and Australia was the headline act of the second week of June, and it did live up to the billing. India's woeful record in ICC finals since 2013 was prolonged after Pat Cummins' Australia claimed their maiden WTC title.

Here are the best pictures to roundoff an entertaining week in cricket

India put on their game faces for the 'Ultimate Test'

Influential Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss in WTC Final and decided to bowl first on a greenish wicket at The Oval. 

Travis Head and Steve Smith's mammoth stand deflates India

Team India started the summit clash strongly, getting rid of three Aussie batters without a substantial total on the scoreboard. However, middle-order ace Steve Smith and Travis Head stitched a 285-run stand to puncture Indian hopes on the opening day. The dashing southpaw top-scored in the match with a sizzling 163-run knock.

A no-show from the top order hurts India's chances 

India's star-studded batting line-up was blown away by the Aussie quicks in the second innings, with the likes of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara structuring their own downfall. 

Comeback man Ajinkya Rahane finds an able partner in Shardul Thakur

Following a meek surrender by the top-order batters, star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja compiled a brisk cameo to drag his side from a precarious position. However, it was a 109-run stand between two half-centurions, Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur, that helped India to a respectable total in their reply. 

A disciplined bowling performance keeps India with a chance

After conceding a sizeable lead in the first innings, Indian bowlers dished out a spirited performance to keep the scoring rate in check during Australia's second innings. 

Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc undo Indian bowlers' good work

Despite being considerably behind in the game, India headed to Lunch on the fourth day on a high. However, the Australian low-order pair of Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc upped the ante after the break as the duo added 93 runs off just 120 deliveries, helping Australia set a daunting target.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane stand tall at Stumps

India's chase started on a bright note, but skipper Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara's dismissals in quick succession handed the initiative to the Aussies. That is when former skipper Virat Kohli and an in-from Ajinkya Rahane steadied the ship for India with a solid partnership in the final session of the fourth day.

A horror start lands a body blow to India's chances

Although India's hopes were slim heading into the fifth and final day of the WTC Final, the loss of well-set Virat Kohli just one short of his fifty, followed by Ravindra Jadeja's dismissal for a duck in the space of just three deliveries felt like the killer blow for the Indians.

Australia complete their silverware collection

India never recovered from those two early blows in the morning session as the Aussies completed a resounding victory to clinch the WTC title. Their triumph translated into Australia being the only team to lay a claim to all the major ICC trophies across formats. 

Kohli's despondence highlights India's heartbreak in ICC tournaments

A dejected Virat Kohli walked past the Test mace, once a prized possession of India during his captaincy, highlighting India's woeful record in ICC finals since 2013. The WTC Final loss was their fourth successive defeat in an ICC final.

Sri Lanka clinch the series after a spectacular turnaround

Dasun Shanaka's Sri Lanka were subjected to a chastening defeat in the ODI series opener against Afghanistan earlier this month. However, the Asian Champions made a terrific comeback, winning back-to-back matches to clinch the three-match series.