WTC Final 2023: AUS vs IND Day 2 Report

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got India off to a positive start but it all changed quickly after India lost their first five wickets in the second half of Day 2. They ended the day on 151/5, trailing Australia by 318 runs and still 118 runs away from avoiding a follow-on. India survived after losing 4 early wickets as Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja built a 71-run stand for the fifth wicket. Rahane remained unbeaten at stumps on 29 off 71 with KS Bharat at the other end. Australia posted 469 after the centuries of Travis Head and Steve Smith. India made a good fightback on Day 2 of the WTC Final 2023 after managing to take just three wickets on the first day. Mohammed Siraj's four-wicket haul led the way for them. Alex Carey's quickfire 48 helped Australia cross the 450-run mark but India restricted the score below 500.

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WTC Final 2023: Day 2 - Australia 469

Even though the Indian bowlers fought back through the first half of day two to take 7 for 142, it perhaps came a little too late, because they had let Australia run away to 327 for 3 on day one. The first day ended with Steven Smith five short of his 31st Test hundred and Travis Head four short of 150. They raced past their respective milestones quickly. Siraj came up with the much-needed breakthrough as he dismissed Head for 163 runs. Head returned to the dressing room after an inning to remember for a long time. Shami didn't give Green the time to settle in and came up with another wicket. The bowling change then did the job as Lord Shardul Thakur dismissed the dangerous Smith for 121 runs. Smith returned to the dressing room after his 8th century against India and 31st total in the format.

Alex Carey probably played his inning like an ODI match but he played his part with a 48-run cameo before Jadeja trapped him for LBW. Siraj got 4 wickets as Australia ended with 469 runs in their first inning.

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WTC Final 2023: Day 2 - India 151/5

Australia's bowlers showed India just where they had gone wrong on day one. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins overpitched frequently and Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got off to a breezy start. It seemed a matter of time before the quicks figured out the ideal length to bowl. Pat Cummins trapped Rohit Sharma(15) for an LBW and then Boland tricked Shubman Gill(13) in his very second over. Two quick wickets completely shifted the momentum toward Australia and they know exactly what to do in this kind of situation. The Aussie quicks kept on building pressure as Pujara(14) lost his ground and lost his wicket just like Shubman Gill. He tried to leave the delivery but Green's in-swinger did the job perfectly.

Virat and Rahane tried to settle in but it looked like Australian bowlers were reading the match pretty well. An unexpected bouncer from Starc gave India another blow as they lost the most important wicket of Virat Kohli(14) after only registering 71 runs on the scoreboard. Rahane survived after a definite LBW as Cummins bowled a no-ball. Jadeja started quickly and for the first time, India looked in control during the batting.

Jadeja was on his way to the half-century while Rahane was holding his ground just like Smith did earlier in Day 1 when Head was hitting boundaries. Cummins changed the bowling and sent Lyon and he didn't disappoint the skipper. Lyon struck by dismissing Jadeja for 48 as India ended Day 2 with 151 runs on the board. They are still trailing by 318 runs and they have to score at least 118 runs to avoid a follow-on.