The seasoned Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane gave India a chance to win the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval by scoring an incredible 89 runs.
Team India has a new lease of life on Day 3 of the WTC final thanks to his partnership with Shardul Thakur.
Rahane’s inclusion in India’s WTC final squad raised a lot of questions. Many people speculated that his IPL performance may have been taken into consideration.
A select few also questioned the veteran batter’s ability to play a crucial knock under pressure.
Ajinkya Rahane, however, disproved his detractors and did so in impressive fashion. Team India supporters on Twitter rejoiced at his outstanding comeback.
“When life knocks you down, stand up like Rahane,” exhort the fans of Ajinkya Rahane for his heroic 89 in the WTC final.
Here are a few of the Tweets:
Tough times don’t last. Tough people do. So many life lessons to learn from Ajinkya and this knock.
So proud of you @ajinkyarahane88 🙌🏽#INDvAUS #WTCFinal #AjinkyaRahane pic.twitter.com/QSJrJq7spC— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) June 9, 2023
Welcome back, Ajinkya Rahane👏🦁
📸: Disney + Hotstar | @ajinkyarahane88 pic.twitter.com/LsOu23LrXd
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) June 9, 2023
Bruised but unbroken 💪
Shardul Thakur and Ajinkya Rahane's determined century stand brought back India to the WTC final.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥 💙 pic.twitter.com/v88Lfry1zq
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) June 9, 2023
Ajinkya Rahane and Lord Shardul Thakur the saviour for Indian Cricket team from Australians in WTC Final 2023 😭
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli always be choked in important match💔#WTCFinal #AUSvsIND #WTC2023 #WTCFinal2023 #Noball #TestCricket#WorldCup2023 #IndianCricketTeam pic.twitter.com/EAK8gtMWZi
— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) June 9, 2023
He is Ajinkya Rahane. He has won BGT for India as a captain.
He was vice captain of Indian Test Team when Virat Kohli was captain. But when Virat Kohli stepped down as captain, BCCI made Rohit Sharma as Captain instead of Rahane and also threw Rahane out of the team.
Today he… pic.twitter.com/KNZz6v7UJv
— Aarav (@sigma__male_) June 9, 2023
Well Played! Ajinkya Rahane!👏👏#WTCFinal2023 #INDvsAUS #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/8u0U1BRBXy
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) June 9, 2023
Best Test Batsman Of India In Overseas Conditions.
Ajinkya Rahane, Yellove 💛 pic.twitter.com/I5K7NoIP5l
— ` (@rahulmsd_91) June 9, 2023
That knock remember forever. when our well known top order batsman failed then this man comes in the pitch for rescue..
After 18 months what a comeback Ajinkya Rahane ..🙌❤️@ajinkyarahane88 #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/0yqugMskIi— 𝐒 𝐰 𝐚 𝐫 𝐚 (@SwaraMSDian) June 9, 2023
Chad Ajinkya Rahane : Making runs where it matters the most 👍👍🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/o6cQLy7Mm0
— UmdarTamker (@UmdarTamker) June 9, 2023
Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur offer some sort of Indian response
As soon as Day 3 began, India lost the wicket of KS Bharat. And it appeared that the Australians would quickly bowl India out.
But that was not to be, as Shardul Thakur later joined Ajinkya Rahane. And the two engaged in a middle-of-the-field brawl.
Both batters didn’t hesitate to smack the loose deliveries. This made their partnership special.
They had to continually alter their plans as a result, which gave the Australian skipper something to consider.
At lunch on Day 3, India reached 260/6 through a combination of forcefulness and good fortune.
After lunch, Australia was able to secure the final four wickets, dismissing India for 296 while holding a comfortable 173 run lead.
The team of Rohit Sharma and co. Their lower-order resistance has given them some hope in what appeared to be a one-way traffic in the WTC final, despite their poor batting performance yesterday.
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