NEW DELHI: Ajinkya Rahane showcased tremendous skill and bravery in his comeback game to take India to 260 for 6 at lunch on Day 3 during the World Test Championship final against Australia on Friday. Despite a challenging Australian pace attack, Rahane remained unbeaten on 89 off 122 deliveries at lunch on day three. Shardul Thakur (36* off 83) provided crucial support, despite enduring two painful blows on his forearm and surviving two dropped catches.
Starting the day at 151 for five in response to Australia's 469, India needed 10 runs to avoid the follow-on. Despite the difficult conditions, India managed to score an impressive 109 runs in the session, which consisted of 22 overs of play.
The Australian pacers, Scott Boland and Pat Cummins, posed a constant threat with their deliveries kicking off the pitch's length. Boland dismissed KS Bharat early in the day, breaching his defence with a sharply moving delivery. Cummins, too, troubled the Indian batsmen and struck Thakur's forearm on consecutive balls, necessitating the physio's assistance.
Rahane had his fair share of luck during his innings too. He was dropped by David Warner at first slip when he was on 72. Rahane capitalised on his reprieve, scoring streaky boundaries and reaching his fifty with an impressive six off Cummins over fine leg. He showcased his attacking intent with a powerful cover drive off Cameron Green.
The session’s second half witnessed Rahane hitting consecutive boundaries off Nathan Lyon and Thakur surviving an lbw decision due to Cummins' no ball. It was not the first time Cummins had overstepped, as he had previously dismissed Rahane but had his wicket negated due to the no-ball infringement on day two.
Overall, Rahane's resilience and Thakur's determination played a vital role in India's fightback. However, despite their efforts, India remained behind in the game, trailing Australia's first innings total.
(With inputs from PTI)
