WTC Final: "Virat Kohli Is Looking Extremely Sublime" - Aakash Chopra On The Possibilities For India On Day 5 Of The WTC Final

Last Update on: June 11th, 2023 at 01:35 pm

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli’s outstanding performance on Day 4 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final, in the opinion of Aakash Chopra, gives India hope of chasing down a sizable fourth-innings mark on the fifth day.

India finished the day at 164/3 on Saturday (June 10), thanks in large part to Kohli’s unbeaten 44 from 60 deliveries. They still need 280 runs to win their first ICC championship since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Given that 280 runs are needed to win the game and that he still has seven wickets in hand, former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli is unquestionably in excellent form going into Day 5. Aakash Chopra, a cricket specialist, recently uploaded a video on his YouTube channel in which he stated that Kohli appears to be at the peak of his abilities and that India has a good chance of winning. The team cannot afford to be complacent, since the aim is still an important one.

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“280 runs are required. A full day’s play is left and we have seven wickets in hand. Virat Kohli is looking like 24-carat gold and Ajinkya Rahane is there alongside him. Kohli and Rahane have played well. Kohli is looking extremely sublime – playing proper drives and flicks, he is looking very good – touchwood. Ajinkya Rahane is providing calmness and solidity. He is looking like the vintage Ajinkya Rahane,” Aakash Chopra said.

When India was reduced to 93/3 after losing Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara in rapid succession, Rahane joined Kohli in the middle. The pair has added 71 runs so far and will look to replicate their 262-run fourth-wicket partnership against the same opponents on Boxing Day in 2014.

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“Will India be able to repeat Gabba at The Oval?” – Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra, a former Indian opener, believes that belief will play a significant role in determining how the last day of the India-Australia test match turns out. Chopra draws a parallel between the current circumstance and India’s historic victory at the Gabba earlier this year to argue that, in order to repeat that feat, the Indian squad will need to have a strong and unwavering conviction in their own skills.

“Will India be able to repeat Gabba at The Oval? You can make a hole in the sky as well but you need to have the belief that you can do that. So today’s 90-over game, the new ball will also come at some stage, it will be all about belief,” Aakash Chopra said.

“Skill is going to be important but belief is going to be equally important, that whether this is possible. I don’t think it can be a draw, either India or Australia will win but going for a win is everything,” Aakash Chopra added.

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However, Chopra stated that the match remains in Australia’s favour and that India requires a miracle. He said that Virat Kohli will need to make a big century, and runs from Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shardul Thakur’s willows will be necessary for Rohit Sharma and co. to pull off the unfathomable.