Tag: ICC World Test Championship

India’s Advance Towards World Test Cricket Championship Final

By LokMarg

India will take on Australia in the final of the ICC World Test Championship at The Oval from June 7 onwards, marking their second successive appearance in the title clash after a loss to New Zealand back in 2021.

Ahead of the ‘Ultimate Test’, let us look at the journey that Team India travelled on their road towards The Oval.
-India tour of England for the ‘Pataudi Trophy’ (August 2021-September 2021, July 2022)

India travelled to the UK with one of its strongest teams in years, with their best chance to defeat England in their home territory. The first Test ended in a washout due to rain. India could have taken a lead of 1-0 as due to performances by Jasprit Bumrah (4/46 and 5/64), KL Rahul (84), Ravindra Jadeja (56) put India in a strong position, leaving them with 209 runs to chase before rain interrupted the play.

In the second Test, India clinched a massive 151-run win at The Lord’s powered by KL Rahul’s 129 and Mohammed Siraj’s (4/94 and 4/32). India took a 1-0 lead in the series.

However, England bounced back in style to clinch a win by an inning and 76 runs, with Joe Root (121) and Ollie Robinson (2/16 and 5/65) being key architects of the win which levelled the series.

India got a moment to rejoice in the fourth Test, winning it by 157 runs thanks to performances from Rohit Sharma (127), who got his first overseas ton and superb spells from Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Jadeja. India led the series 2-1.

The series was put on hold due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The final Test was played in July 2022. Despite centuries from Rishabh Pant (146) and Ravindra Jadeja, England chased down bulk of 378-run target thanks to centuries from Joe Root (142) and Jonny Bairstow (114). England levelled the series 2-2.

-New Zealand tour of India (November 2021)

India played two Tests against New Zealand at home. The first Test ended in a draw with Shreyas Iyer (105 and 65) being a standout performer. The match ended before NZ could chase the target of 284 runs.

In the second Test, India registered a win by massive 372 runs. Mayank Agarwal (150 and 62) and Ravichandran Ashwin (4/8 and 4/34) were best performers for India.

-South Africa tour of India (January 2022)

In the first Test, India won by 113 runs, with KL Rahul (123 and 23) and Mohammed Shami (5/44 and 3/50) standing out with their performances.

However, Keegan Petersen (62 and 28 in second Test, 72 and 82 in the final Test), Marco Jansen (4/31 and 3/67 in second Test, 3/55 and 4/36 in the final Test) revived South Africa’s fortunes, guiding them to a 2-1 series win.

-Sri Lanka tour of India (March 2022)

Sri Lanka toured India to play two Tests back in March last year. In the first Test, Jadeja’s all-round effort of 175* and (5/41 and 4/46) guided India to an innings win by 222 runs.

In the second Test, the fifties by Shreyas Iyer (92 and 67) and Jasprit Bumrah (5/24 and 3/23) helped India clinch a 238-run win to win the series 2-0.

-India tour of Bangladesh (December 2022)

After a white-ball series, India also played two Tests against Bangladesh. In the first Test, all-round show by Kuldeep Yadav (40 runs and eight wickets including a five-wicket haul) and centuries from Shubman Gill (110) and Cheteshwar Pujara (102 and 90) guided India to a 188-run win.

India clean sweeped the series effortlessly with another all-round performance with Rishabh Pant (93), Ravichandran Ashwin (42* and six wickets, including a four-wicket haul) and Shreyas Iyer (86 and 29*) being the best performers.

-Australia tour of India (February-March 2023)

The Australian challenge arrived at India as India’s final obstacle towards the WTC final. In the first Test, an all-round show by Ravindra Jadeja (70 and seven wickets), century by Rohit Sharma (120) helped India win by an innings and 132 runs.

In the second Test, half-century by Axar Patel (74) and yet another all-round masterclass by Jadeja (26 and 10 wickets including a spell of 7/62) helped India win by six-wickets. Jadeja’s seven-wicket haul crumbled the Aussies to just 113 runs while following on, leaving India to chase 115 runs. India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-0 lead.

A spin exhibition by legendary Nathan Lyon (3/35 and 8/64) helped Australia win a low-scoring third Test by nine wickets to stay alive in the series. The scoreline was 2-1.

In the final Test, Virat Kohli (186) outclassed Usman Khawaja (180) and Cameron Green (114) in a high-scoring match, which ended in a draw. India won the series 2-1.

India’s squad for WTC final: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk).

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar and Suryakumar Yadav have been named as stand-by players for the high-stakes match.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner. (ANI)

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WTC Final Virat Kohli

Superstar Of The Game: Australian Players Describe Kohli Ahead Of WTC Final

By LokMarg

Ahead of the ICC World Test Championship between Australia and India at The Oval, Australian stars were given a task of describing Star India batter Virat Kohli in a few words.

India and Australia will take on each other in the WTC final at The Oval from June 7 onwards. This will be India’s second straight successive final in the tournament after 2021.
“What the Aussies think of Virat Kohli #WTC23 #cricket #cricketreels,” said an Instagram post from ICC.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins described Virat as “Good player. Always up for a fight.”

Star batter Steve Smith, who is also part of the ‘Fab Four’ batting stars of the modern era along with Virat, Kane Williamson and Joe Root, described the batter as “Superstar”.

He loves playing against us. He always scores runs against us, hope we can keep him quiet this week,” added Smith.

Opener David Warner described Virat as a player who plays an “Unbelievable cover drive”.

Marnus Labuschagne, one of the exciting up-and-coming batters in the game is also a big admirer of Virat.

“One of the all-time greats. An all-format great. Hopefully not this week (laughs),” he added.

All-rounder Cameron Green said that Virat is the ‘Man of India’.

Pacer Mitchell Starc termed Virat as “skillful backbone of Indian middle-order.”

Virat indeed loves playing against Australia. In 24 Tests against Australia, he has scored 1,979 runs at an average of 48.26, with eight tons and five fifties. His best score is 186. Across all formats against Australia, Virat has played 92 matches, in which he has scored 4,945 runs at an average of 50.97. His best score is 186. He has scored 16 centuries and 24 fifties against Aussies.

Given the form he is in, he will no doubt be a key player in the WTC final for India.

After 2021 and the first half of 2022 which went against Virat’s gigantic standards, the star batter started his redemption arc from Asia Cup 2022. Virat took a break of more than a month from the sport before the tournament. He scored his much-anticipated 71st century in the tournament after over three years.

He finished the tournament as the second-highest run-scorer. He scored 276 runs in five matches at an average of 92.00 in five games, with a century and two fifties.

In the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 later that year, Virat pulled off an innings of a lifetime, scoring 82* against Pakistan in a tense run chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer, scoring 296 runs in six matches at an average of 98.67 and a strike rate of 136.41.

He scored four fifties, with best score of 82*. Kohli started off the year 2023 with an ODI century against Sri Lanka. He continued his brilliant performances in big events, being the second-highest run-scorer, and highest-run scorer for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. In four matches, he scored 297 runs at an average of 49.50, with best score of 186.

Virat had a great IPL 2023 season, in 14 matches of IPL 2023, he has scored 639 runs at an average of 53.25 and a strike rate above 139. He has scored two centuries and six fifties this season, with best score of 101*. He is the third-highest run-scorer in the league so far.

In international cricket in 2022, he has scored 724 runs so far in 13 matches, 15 innings at an average of 51.71. He has scored three centuries and a half-century, with the best score of 186.

Since his return to the sport at Asia Cup 2022, Virat has scored 1,596 runs in 38 innings, with five centuries and eight fifties. His runs have come at an average of 53.20.

India’s squad for WTC final: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Kishan (wk).

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mukesh Kumar and Suryakumar Yadav have been named as stand-by players for the high-stakes match.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner. (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com