WTC Final: Ajinkya Rahane reaches fifty with SIX after poor start on Day 3; completes 5,000 Test Runs | WATCH

Ajinkya Rahane has provided some relief for the Indian contingent in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia on Friday, June 9 after he scored his 26th fifty. The former India vice-captain is a lone warrior for the Indian team in the contest after Ravindra Jadeja (48) despite the Aussies dominating with both bat and ball. This came after KS Bharat was scalped on the second ball of the day to put the Indian side on the back foot.

Rahane also completed 5,000 runs in the Test format and joins an elite list consisting of Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and others.

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Rahane brings up fifty

While the struggles continued at one end, Ajinkya Rahane, returning to the Indian fold after more than one year, was in top form. On the final ball of the 46th over, Rahane pulled away a terrific shot over the fine leg to bring up his fifty and give some relief to the Indian team. His innings consisted of eight fours and a six at the time of writing and was batting an unbeaten 89. He was supported by fellow Mumbaikar Shardul Thakur who was batting on 36.

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India's collapse with the bat

This came after India made a poor start to their innings on Day 2 of the WTC final, after bowling out Australia, the Indian team needed a good start to stay in the hunt, but things did not go according to plan for Rohit Sharma’s team. India lost the skipper on 15 on the final ball of the sixth over. Soon India lost Shubman Gill as he missed judged the flight of the delivery and was scalped by Scott Boland on 13 in the very next over. At tea on Day 2, India were 37/2 with Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle and trying to steer the team to a safe position.

However, in the post-lunch session, India lost both Pujara (14) and Kohli (14) as the situation went from bad to worse at 71/4.

With wickets following at regular intervals, batters Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja (48) steered India to the 100-run mark. Jadeja was aggressive of the two and scored 48 off just 51 deliveries, while Rahane held one end for the Indian side. Jadeja’s innings consisted of a six and seven fours. Both Rahane and Jadeja put in a 71-run stand for the fifth wicket before Nathan Lyon got the better of him.

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