NEW DELHI: Former India head coach
Ravi Shastri on Saturday said that he didn’t expect
Cheteshwar Pujara to try out an uncharacteristic ramp shot against Pat Cummins on Day 4 of the
World Test Championship Final on Sunday.
Pujara tried to play an unorthodox shot over the keeper’s head but failed to time it well and it went straight into wicketkeeper Alex Carey’s hands.
“Never expected that shot from Pujara…that is get-out shot and he is back in the hut. It’s not the scoreboard pressure but poor shot selection.
1/11
WTC Final: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane hold firm against Australia
Show Captions
<p>Virat Kohli defied Australia on Day 4 to give India hope of an extraordinary win in what could be a grandstand finish to the World Test Championship final at The Oval. </p>
<p>India were 164/3 at stumps, still needing a further 280 runs to reach what would be a record-breaking total of 444 on the fifth and final day. </p>
<p>Kohli was 44 not out, while Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on 20 after he had already marked his first Test in over a year by top-scoring with 89 in India’s first-innings 296. </p>
<p>India have won their last four series against Australia but a victory in south London might just surpass even those wins. </p>
<p>The scale of India’s task was emphasised by the fact that only four teams in 146 years of Test cricket have made more than 400 to win in the fourth innings. </p>
<p>Australia need 7 more wickets to win the only major global men’s trophy to have so far eluded them and ensure they head into next week’s Ashes against England in buoyant mood. </p>
<p>India captain Rohit Sharma set the initial tone for a daunting chase with several boundaries, including a pulled six off Mitchell Starc. </p>
<p>But on the stroke of tea, Shubman Gill fell to a controversial catch when Cameron Green dived low to his left following an edge off Scott Boland. </p>
<p>Spin proved Rohit’s undoing on a wearing pitch when he missed an attempted sweep against Nathan Lyon, bowling from around the wicket, falling LBW for 43. </p>
<p>India lost another wicket without adding another run when Cheteshwar Pujara attempted an extravagant upper-cut off Pat Cummins on 27 only to guide a simple catch to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. </p>
“Rohit and Pujara must be kicking themselves for the shots they played,” Shastri said in a chat on Star Sports after the day’s play.
Shastri feels “weathering the storm in the first session” on Sunday will be key to the chances of Rohit Sharma’s men winning the WTC Final.
India reached 164 for 3 at stumps on fourth day Saturday in pursuit of a huge 444-run target with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane batting on 44 and 20 respectively, needing another 280 runs in 90 overs on the final day for a win.
“Weathering the storm in the first session will be the key tomorrow. That is where the sting, if all, will be (on the pitch),”
Skipper Rohit Sharma (43) and Cheteshwar Pujara (27) were dismissed in quick succession in the final session, and Shastri came down hard on the senior player duo for playing poor shots.
Opener Shubman Gill fell for 18 after a controversial catch by Cameroon Green and Shastri said the Indian youngster was “unlucky”.
(With inputs from PTI)
Source link
