As a result of two days being abandoned due to rain, the WTC Final is heading into the reserve day that was announced by the ICC in advance. The three days that saw some cricketing action lived up to the hype around the final, with both the teams exchanging one blow after another.
With the way things were poised at the end of Day 5, all outcomes were possible, with a draw or a New Zealand win looking the likeliest. With the latest developments in the game, the scales have tilted further in favor of New Zealand.
Having lost both the openers in the final session on Day 5, the onus was on Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara to safely negotiate the first hour of the day. However, the star of the first innings with the ball, Kyle Jamieson, has sent both of them back to the pavilion early.
After planting seeds of doubt in Kohli’s mind with a couple of inswingers, Jamieson produced one that just about held its line. It would have been an easy leave for Kohli but the skipper went feeling for it outside the off-stump. He could only get a faint edge which was gobbled up by keeper BJ Watling.
His overnight partner Pujara soon followed suit, getting dismissed for 15 by a ripper from Jamieson. Pitched just on the fourth stump line, the delivery moved away ever so slightly which induced an edge from Pujara’s hanging bat. Ross Taylor at first slip made no mistake, reducing India to nervy 72/4.
Following the dismissals, Twitter had a field day with its memes:
Kohli out.
Vodka eases the pain. pic.twitter.com/5dyVL6yt7E
— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) June 23, 2021
Virat Kohli when it's time to perform on the big stage pic.twitter.com/zGbQyq6Dkq
— Abhimeyang ™ (@5abhimeyang) June 23, 2021
#WTC2021Final
Jamieson comes to bowl
*Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/YaYGP75yB3— Anand ki Baatein (@Anand_ki_Batein) June 23, 2021
*Virat Kohli gets out and After Pujara gets out*
*Virat to Pujara : pic.twitter.com/05Cv4QgEPI
— Prathamesh (@Memesrestic) June 23, 2021
When you try to trick Jamieson into playing dukes to know his weakness but he somehow gets to know yours#WTC2021Final #ICCWorldTestChampionship #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/lg29qk9ovJ
— Sunny Rana 🥂 (@SunnySaidHigh) June 23, 2021
What looks more likely these days?@imVkohli scoring a Century in a Test match or him walking back after yet another disappointing game. I think the Indians are just used to the latter now. #WTC2021Final #ICCWorldTestChampionship #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/1IwUoVuXMt
— Shubham Misra (@trulymadlybong) June 23, 2021
