At the Kia Oval on Sunday, Australia finished a 209-run victory against India in the World Test Championship match.
Australia beat India in Test Championship final: Chasing the winning score of 444, India’s attempt ended with them getting bowled out for 234, resulting in their second consecutive loss in the World Tennis Championship final.
It indicates that Australia will enter the Ashes as the undisputed world Test champions after ruthlessly crushing India’s resistance.
Australia sailed to victory with just five days until they resume their fiercest rivalry against England at Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports. Scott Boland provided the crucial breakthrough, dismissing star batsman Virat Kohli for 49 in the seventh over of the day and adding Ravindra Jadeja to complete the double strike two balls later.
Due to Josh Hazlewood’s injury, Boland, a lively 34-year-old seamer, wasn’t initially expected to play. However, he has now emerged as a strong favorite to face Ben Stokes’ team in the first Test, commencing on Friday.
Australia Seizes Victory as Virat Kohli’s Dismissal Crushes India’s Hopes
Since the first morning, India had been chasing the game, and Virat Kohli’s death made it clear that Australia would win the world Test championship for the first time rather than if.
The Oval’s largely pro-India throng became silent, and an air of impending doom descended.
Everything was at stake on the fifth day of the red-ball showcase, as the team needed to score 280 runs and had seven wickets available. Normally, such a calculation would have made Australia the clear favourites, but Kohli’s skill as a chaser gave Indian supporters genuine hope that their team could score a record 444 runs to win the game.
He scored a blistering 44 the night before while playing with ease, but on Sunday he only added five more runs as Boland took the decisive wicket.
He threw one wider right after beating the bat, which provoked a sumptuous drive from Kohli. Kohli then blasted a quick chance between second and third slip. Steve Smith took care of the rest, leaping into action to make a spectacular catch.
Contrary to Cameron Green’s similarly excellent take on day four, there was no discussion at all on the legitimacy of this one or its significance to the result. The elimination of Kohli for 49 practically ended India’s chances.
Their supporters, who had filled the stadium all week and again descended on it on Sunday in anticipation of seeing a historic triumph, were silent.
Australia Asserts Dominance with Comprehensive Victory Over India
Boland wasted no time in emphasising Australia’s supremacy in case there was any doubt. After two balls, Boland once again felt jubilant as he caught Jadeja behind for a duck and noticed some movement around the off-stump area.
Boland appeared to have three wickets in four deliveries when Srikar Bharat saw a thick edge ooze off the toe of the bat, but on this occasion the ball kept rising and almost missed a bounding David Warner at first slip.
Ajinkya Rahane tried his best to rekindle the conflict by launching a few majestic drives, but Australia controlled the majority of the cards. He attempted a sweep but struck cleanly in front of the stumps, departing for 46.
Mitchell Starc added Umesh Yadav to his list of wickets, and if Josh Hazlewood is deemed fit to play England, Starc’s position in the lineup might be in jeopardy. However, Nathan Lyon effectively cleaned up the remainder of the tail.
He completed with a four-for-41 total after lbw’ing Shardul Thakur, catching Bharat’s skier of a return catch, and finishing when Mohammed Siraj directed a reverse sweep straight to point.
After losing to New Zealand in the initial final two years prior, Australia’s celebrations got underway as they formed a circle in the centre of the pitch. India, who finished as runners-up this time around, finished second.
Currently, Boland is my favourite player.
Before the first Ashes Test against England on Friday, which Sky Sports will broadcast live, Australia captain Pat Cummins highlighted Boland for praise.
“At times we weren’t our slickest, but for the most part we were in control,” added Cummins.
Boland is now my favourite player because of how great he was. Everyone simply performed their roles admirably.
“This [Test] format is our favourites; just ask anyone in the locker room. [The title is] huge. It’s the format that gives you the most joy when you win, and we grew up watching it.
“Playing two finals is a good achievement for us, but we would like to go a mile ahead of that as well,” India skipper Rohit Sharma said.
“You can’t deny the work we put in for those two years to get to the finals. We regret not being able to win them, but we’ll work hard to advance to the next championship.
At Edgbaston, Australia will want to maintain their impressive recent bat-and-ball performance.
Everyone was prepared differently for this, but everyone was focused, according to Cummins. We’ll enjoy it, and then we’ll focus on the Ashes.