Shardul Thakur became the first Indian to score three consecutive Test half-centuries at The Oval, joining Bradman and Border.

Amidst the Indian team’s struggle and the early fall of the top order, Shardul exceptional innings proved pivotal. His partnership of 109 runs with Rahane not only revived the Indian innings but also prevented the possibility of a follow-on, ensuring a crucial turnaround in the match.

How did India avoid the follow-on in the WTC Final 2023?

Rahane (89) and Thakur (36*) put on 109 runs together to rescue India from 177/6 and avoid the follow-on in the WTC Final. Partnering with Shardul Thakur, who remained unbeaten on 36, Rahane guided India to 260/6 at lunch on Day Three of the World Test Championship Final at The Oval.

India’s morning session began with the early dismissal of K.S Bharat by Australia’s Scott Boland, raising concerns of a swift batting collapse. However, Rahane and Thakur displayed resilience, capitalizing on Australia’s inconsistent bowling. They benefited from no-balls and sloppy fielding, enabling India to fight back and reduce the deficit to 209 runs.

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What was the Rahane-Thakur partnership score in the WTC Final 2023?

Ajinkya Rahane became the 13th Indian batter to pass 5,000 Test runs during the 2023 WTC Final at The Oval.

Despite enduring some blows on the forearm, Thakur persevered and displayed remarkable shots during his partnership with Rahane. Their splendid collaboration helped India avoid the potential embarrassment of a follow-on. Unfortunately, Rahane lost his wicket in the second session after lunch, departing the field after contributing 89 runs.