Twitter Reactions: Australia on top despite India's spirited fightback on Day 3

While the Aussies are still in the driver's seat, an intriguing day of play has given India an outside chance in the summit clash.

By Chaitanya Prakash

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4 Min Read

Shardul Thakur and Ajinkya Rahane
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Shardul Thakur and Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo Source: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

A spirited fightback by the lower-order batters, coupled with a disciplined bowling performance, saw the Indians claw their way back ever so slightly in the ongoing World Test Championship Final against Australia. While the Aussies are still in the driver's seat, an intriguing day of play has given India an outside chance in the summit clash.

The third day is often labelled as the moving day and it lived up to the reputation as Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat departed on the very second ball of the day to give Australia the upper hand in the morning session. The incoming Shardul Thakur was greeted with a barrage of short deliveries by Aussie skipper Pat Cummins, needing the intervention of the physio.

After surviving a couple of blows to the right hand, Thakur started rotating the strike, stitching an invaluable stand with the well-set Ajinkya Rahane. However, Shardur had a huge slice of luck when Cameron Green dropped a sitter in the slip cordon. The Indian all-rounder was dropped once again as Australia's woeful catching continued in the first session of the day.

Rahane breached the 50-run mark with a nonchalant six off Pat Cummins, registering his 26th Test half-century, arguably one of his most testing ones. He was also handed a reprieve by the Australia slip cordon. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins' troubles with no-balls continued as Shardul was dismissed on the stroke of Lunch only for the replays to show that the Aussie skipper had overstepped. 

However, Cummins and Green made amends for their blemishes when the latter clung on to a spectacular catch to deny Rahane a well-deserved century. While Shardul registered his third half-century in as many innings at The Oval, avoiding the follow-on, Australia wrapped up the Indian tail to pocket a sizeable lead. 

Ravindra Jadeja sends back Steve Smith and Travis Head in the last session

India, who showed a tremendous fight in the latter part of their batting innings, carried the momentum when Australia came out to bat. Australian opener David Warner was the first wicket to fall as Mohammed Siraj's dream run with the new ball continued. Usman Khawaja was the next to depart as India started to claw their way back into the contest.

But Australia, as they often do, blunted the Indian pacers after a gritty partnership between two of the best batters in the world, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. While Labuschagne was tested with a couple of nasty deliveries, Smith looked at his sublime best form the other end. However, the Australian batting ace fell against the run of play to hand India a much-needed breakthrough.

Smith's departure brought in the dangerous Travis Head to the middle and the southpaw tried to play his natural game, taking on left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja. But it was the Indian all-rounder who had the last laugh as he hung onto a sharp catch to dismiss Head, accounting for both Australian centurions from the first innings. 

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World Test Championship 2023-25IndiaAustraliaShardul ThakurAjinkya Rahane