Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar swiftly dismissed Rohit Sharma’s proposal of a three-match series for future World Test Championship (WTC) Finals following India’s defeat to Australia by 209 runs at The Oval. While Rohit Sharma had voiced his preference for a multi-match final, Gavaskar reminded him that the format of a one-off final had been established long before the start of the WTC cycle.
In an interview with India Today, Gavaskar drew parallels with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and questioned whether players would advocate for a “best of three” format for that tournament. He emphasized the importance of mental preparation, stating, “Just like you prepare for the IPL, you don’t say best of three. Everybody can have a bad day, or a couple of days, but before the first ball of the cycle you know what it is. So, you can’t be asking for a best of three. Tomorrow, you may say best of five.”
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During the fifth day of the WTC Final, both teams initially faced challenges as Australia’s bowlers exhibited accuracy, while Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane demonstrated composed batting. However, Scott Boland’s impeccable delivery in the seventh over led to Kohli’s dismissal, caught brilliantly by Steve Smith. Boland continued his success by claiming the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja in a similar fashion, caught by Alex Carey. Although Boland narrowly missed out on another dismissal, his early breakthroughs set the stage for Australia’s eventual dominance.
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Despite a 33-run partnership between Rahane and KS Bharat, Australia’s relentless bowling attack maintained pressure. Rahane succumbed to Mitchell Starc in the 57th over, followed by Shardul Thakur’s dismissal by Nathan Lyon in the subsequent over, exposing India’s lower order. Australia sealed victory in the 64th over, with Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland emerging as standout bowlers in the second innings.
Gavaskar’s remarks emphasized the predetermined nature of the one-off final in the WTC cycle, underscoring the need for players to be mentally prepared for such a format. He challenged Rohit Sharma’s proposal, highlighting that the IPL, despite the potential for off days, does not entertain requests for a “best of three” series.