WTC Final: Ups, Downs, Impossible! India's road to glory

Despite having seven victories in their bag, it was almost impossible for Team India to make their way to World Test Championship that is going to take place on June 18 against New Zealand at Southhampton.

 

 

 

 

India had a brilliant start as they beating the West Indies 2-0 in the Caribbean. They had finished the series with 100 per cent of the points available to them with a five-wicket haul from Ishant Sharma (5/43) and Jasprit Bumrah (5/7) and thanks to Ajinkya Rahane's century (102). Bumrah shone again while taking 6/27 and claiming his first Test hat-trick. That and a Hanuma Vihari century (111) helped India to a 257-run win.

 

 

 

 

It was a complete washout for South Africa which was not even imagined by anyone as they were defeated by Men in Blue 3-0. Star performers were Mayank Agarwal (215) and Rohit Sharma (176) and a seven-wicket haul from Ravichandran Ashwin (7/145) in the first innings. In a second-innings, a century from Rohit (127) and a five-for from Mohammed Shami (5/35) secured victory in the end.

 

 

 

In the second Test, it was Kohli’s turn to shine who scored an unbeaten 254 and Agarwal (108) scoring another century. Similar punishment was dealt out in the final Test of the series as a double-century from Rohit (212) and a century from Rahane (115) steered India to an innings-and-202-run victory. Once again, India picked up another 120 points for the series, and maintained their 100 per cent record.

 

 

Next month, India’s dominant run continued as they handed Bangladesh a 2-0 series defeat that notably featured the first day-night Test ever played in India. In the series-opener, Agarwal (243) scored a double-century while Ishant Sharma (5/22) took a five-for to help bowl Bangladesh out for 106 before a century from Kohli (136) put India in the driver’s seat.

 

 

Four more wickets to Ishant (4/56) in the second innings and five from Umesh Yadav (5/53) wrapped up the win inside three days. At this stage, India had picked up all 360 points available to them.

 

 

 

 

The winning streak of Team India crashed down when they took on New Zealand in New Zealand and the Indians were comprehensively defeated 2-0. India was knocked over for 165 as Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson took four wickets each. Five wickets from Ishant (5/68) kept New Zealand to 358. In the end, New Zealand only had to chase nine runs to win, with a five-wicket haul from Southee condemning India to their first defeat of the WTC.

 

 

There were signs of a bounce-back at Christchurch where India claimed a surprise seven-run lead despite a five-wicket haul from Jamieson. Unfortunately for the Indians, they were unable to capitalise as they were bowled out for 124 in their second-innings and New Zealand went on to win by seven wickets. Their percentage tally at this stage, as would become pertinent by the next time they played, was 75 per cent.

 

 

India's hopes of winning the series were not high much as Kohli’s team were bowled out for 36 at Adelaide Oval and sunk to an eight-wicket defeat at the start of the Border-Gavaskar series. Injuries followed in the 2nd Test but the grit, determination was witnessed by the Team India who went for turning impossible to possible. Pant who turned the tide of the match, scoring a scintillating 97 off 118 to make a chase of 407 look possible on day five.

 

 

The world of cricket saw some of the bravest batting you’ll ever see as Ashwin ignored a tweak in his back and Vihari battled a torn hamstring. With Jadeja sitting padded up on the team balcony with a dislocated thumb, Ashwin and Vihari stood tall for close to 40 overs to force the draw.

 

 

In the decider match, there were several players who were not fit enough to play at the Gabba. Nor were Jadeja and Bumrah. No one expected India to claim the series from there. It had been decades since a team had won at the Gabba and the side that had pulled it off were the incomparable West Indies of 1988. This was an Indian team down seven of their best bowlers and captain Kohli. Five days later, Pant led the Indian team on a lap of honour at the Gabba. India had won the series and their WTC percentage sat at a healthy 71.66 per cent.

 

 

India went into the England series needing to win at least two Tests and the campaign. However, the dreams got blurred when Team India suffered a 227-run defeat. But, in 2nd Test a century from Rohit (161), a five-wicket haul (5/43) and a century from Ashwin before five wickets from debutant Axar Patel (5/60) saw their first win.

 

Axar (6/38, 5/32) picked up where he left off in the third Test, taking 11 wickets to seal another comfortable victory for India. In the final Test, Pant once again emerged scoring a well-paced century to pull India back. Washington Sundar's 96* bolstered India's lead to 160. Ashwin and Axar then got to work on the England batsmen, bowling them out for 135 to secure an innings-and-25-run victory, and seal the series 3-1. And with that India’s spot in the WTC final was secured.