WTC Final Highlights, India vs Australia Day 4: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane guide India to 164/3 at stumps

23:01 (IST)

That brings us to the end of our coverage of Day 4 of the ICC World Test Championship Final, with a solid unbroken partnership between Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane giving them a glimmer of hope of not just saving the game, but going on to pull off the unthinkable.

The 'Ultimate Test' boils down to its final day (with a reserve day in place, in case the weather gods decide to play spoilsport tomorrow), with all the results still very much possible. And we sure can't wait to witness what should be an exciting finish to what has been a quality game so far.

On behalf of my colleagues at the Firstpost Sports, this is Amit signing off, bidding you all good night!

22:42 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

STAT ALERT: Virat Kohli has now gone past 5,000 runs across formats against Australia. 2000 of those runs have come in Tests. Boy does VK love playing against the Aussies!

22:41 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

“I think we got runs on the board that we would’ve liked. Would always like to take more wickets, but they (Kohli and Rahane) played well. (On Green's catch) Thought he caught it very square. I think the right decision was made. We got a few wickets there back-to-back. It will be about putting the ball in the right areas tomorrow. (On declaration) It wasn’t spoken about until Patty came out there. I thought he (Starc) played beautifully. Tricky little period. Two class players (Kohli and Rahane). It’s just a matter of being patient. Hopefully those chances come,” says Alex Carey, who struck an unbeaten 66 earlier in the day, in a chat with the broadcasters after stumps.

22:34 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 40 overs,India 164/3 ( Virat Kohli 44 , Ajinkya Rahane 20)

STUMPS ON DAY 4: Nathan Lyon bowls out the final over of the day with Virat Kohli collecting his seventh boundary, tucking a short-of-length ball from the veteran offie past the man at short fine leg to move to 44. The Aussies appeal for a catch after Smith dashes to his left and dives near leg slip, with the umpire shaking his head. Replays show the ball deflecting off his pad. Kohli sees off the remainiing two deliveries without much fuss.

With that, India end the day on 164/3 after 40 overs, needing another 280 to win with seven wickets in hand and one more day to go (two, in case weather plays spoilsport tomorrow).

22:30 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 39 overs,India 160/3 ( Virat Kohli 40 , Ajinkya Rahane 20)

Another no-ball from Pat Cummins! The Australia skipper will have to do something about the landing of his foot, else he could miss out on a dismissal or two, which has already happened in this Test.

22:25 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 38 overs,India 158/3 ( Virat Kohli 39 , Ajinkya Rahane 20)

Loud appeal for caught-behind by Lyon against Rahane in the fourth delivery of his 10th over. DROPPED! Rahane survives on 20 after getting a thick outside edge while attempting a cover drive, with the ball taking a deflection off keeper Carey's gloves and landing safely near the vacant leg slip. Fives minutes left in the day's play. Kohli and Rahane will do well to block their way through the remaining over or two.

22:20 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 37 overs,India 158/3 ( Virat Kohli 39 , Ajinkya Rahane 20)

Cummins brings himself back into the attack, replacing Starc who conceded three boundaries in his two over spell. Starts off with a steep bouncer that goes both over the batter as well as the keeper for five wides. Cummins oversteps two balls later, his third of the innings so far and his 10th of the WTC Final. Rahane collects a single off the last ball of the over, steering the ball behind square. Another 10 minutes to go before the umpire flicks the bails to indicate close of play.

22:13 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 35 overs,India 150/3 ( Virat Kohli 39 , Ajinkya Rahane 18)

FOUR! Second boundary for Kohli in a space of four deliveries from Starc, with the Indian batting star driving a full, wide delivery bowled over the wicket by the left-arm pacer down the ground, through the vacant mid-off region. Brings up the 150 for the Indians in style.

22:09 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! The fifty partnership comes up between Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane for the fourth wicket in 83 deliveries with the former bringing up the milestone a lovely flick through the midwicket region for a boundary in the 35th over. Excellent work by the two, with Virat assuming charge since the dismissals of Rohit and Pujara, and his presence will be crucial in the remainder of the match if India are to somehow avoid a defeat. IND 146/3

22:04 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! Rahane collects another boundary off veteran offie Lyon, this time driving a flighted delivery past extra cover with a firm drive. IND 140/3

22:02 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 33 overs,India 136/3 ( Virat Kohli 30 , Ajinkya Rahane 13)

Starc returns to the attack, replacing Boland. Kohli sends Rahane back last minute in the second delivery after pushing the ball towards mid off and initially signalling for a single, with Rahane comfortably making it back to the non-striker's end. Another loud 'NO!' from Virat two balls later, this time thanks to the sharp work of the fielder at cover. FOUR! Starc aims one at his rib cage, and Kohli rides the bounce and tucks this behind square on the leg side, moving to 30 in the process, with the partnership with Rahane now worth 43. Another half-an-hour left in the day's play.

21:58 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 32 overs,India 132/3 ( Virat Kohli 26 , Ajinkya Rahane 13)

Boland concedes a single on either side of getting hit for a boundary by Rahane towards wide third man, with six coming off his 11th over. Tidy over from Lyon next up, with Rahane and Kohli collecting a single each, both working the ball towards the midwicket region.

21:51 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! Rahane opens the face of his blade and guides the length ball from Boland well past gully to collect his second boundary and move to double figures. IND 129/3

21:50 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 30 overs,India 124/3 ( Virat Kohli 24 , Ajinkya Rahane 7)

Misfield at point after a punch by Kohli allows the batter to dash back for a second. Kohli later keeps the strike with a single off the last ball. Three off Boland's 10th over. Just one conceded by Lyon in the following over, with Kohli pinching an easy single in the second delivery.

21:41 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! And now a boundary for Rahane, the first of his innings, as he sweeps ball towards the long leg fence off a full delivery, placing it out of leg slip's reach. IND 120/3

21:40 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 27 overs,India 116/3 ( Virat Kohli 20 , Ajinkya Rahane 3)

FOUR! Kohli ruins what was turning out to be a fine over from Boland, flicking a full delivery through the midwicket region to collect his third boundary and moving to 20 in the process in 24 balls at a strike rate above 80. Boland had challenged his outside edge with a couple of sharp deliveries earlier in the over and had bowled five dots on the trot.
 

21:34 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 26 overs,India 112/3 ( Virat Kohli 16 , Ajinkya Rahane 3)

Cummins brings Boland back into the attack in his place, with the latter starting off his new spell with five consecutive dots followed by a single to Rahane off the last delivery. Lyon has a forward short-leg along with a slip and a leg slip in place for Rahane in the following over. Two singles off Lyon's fourth. Another hour left in the day's play, and India will be hoping Kohli and Rahane are somehow able to survive the remaining overs in the day's play.

21:26 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 24 overs,India 109/3 ( Virat Kohli 15 , Ajinkya Rahane 1)

FOUR! Drilled down the ground by Kohli, this time off Lyon, as he collects two boundaries for himself in as many overs to move to double figures. With Rahane nursing an injured finger or two, VK will look to take charge against the Aussies. Earlier in the over, Rahane opened his account with a single, guiding the ball through the square-leg region.

21:21 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 23 overs,India 101/3 ( Virat Kohli 8 , Ajinkya Rahane 0)

FOUR! A welcome boundary for the Indians, the first of the innings for Kohli as he flicks a full delivery angling towards him through the midwicket region, bringing up the 100 for India. Ajinkya Rahane, meanwhile, joins him at the centre and India suddenly have two new batters at the crease after losing two wickets in as many overs. Drinks brought to the field at the end of the 23rd over. Another hour and 10 minutes left in the day's play, and Australia will seriously fancy their chances of wrapping this up quickly tomorrow if they can get another wicket or two in the remaining overs.

21:10 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

OUT! And now Cheteshwar Pujara falls shortly after Rohit Sharma's dismissal as Australia seize control with two wickets in a space of seven deliverires. Uncharacteristic from ChePu, who attempts to ramp a short delivery from the Aussie skipper, and ends up getting a faint tickle off the toe end of his bat, departing after getting off to a promising start. IND 93/3

Pujara c Carey b Cummins 27(47)

21:03 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

OUT! Nathan Lyon makes an instant impact after being introduced into the attack in the 20th over as he traps Rohit leg-before for 43. The India skipper attempts a sweep, and misses, and the umpire raises his finger right away after a shout from the veteran off-spinner. Rohit goes for the review, and gets three reds. IND 92/2

Rohit LBW Lyon 43 (60)

20:58 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 19 overs,India 91/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 43 , Cheteshwar Pujara 26)

The fifty partnership comes up between Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara for the second wicket in 70 deliveries! Pujara grabs a brace in the second delivery of Cummins' fifth over after working the ball behind square before driving through the covers for a single two balls later to bring up the milestone.

20:52 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! Dug in short by Green, Rohit shapes for the hook and gets a thick top-edge, with the ball flying towards fine leg and landing just short of the boundary rope. Starc was standing slightly wide at long leg, and for some reason did not move a muscle. The India skipper moves into the 40s with that shot. IND 88/1

20:49 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 17 overs,India 84/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 39 , Cheteshwar Pujara 23)

Bowling change from both ends, with Cameron Green and Pat Cummins replacing Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc respectively. The former starts off with a wide followed by a single. Cummins too starts off by conceding an extra from the Pavilion End, starting off with a no-ball — which he has been guilty of quite a few times in the 'Ultimate Test'. FOUR! Pujara flicks an overpitched delivery from Pujara through midwicket. Starc gives the ball a spirited chase and puts in a slide, all in vain. ChePu moves to the 20s with that boundary.

20:38 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 15 overs,India 76/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 37 , Cheteshwar Pujara 19)

FOUR! Driven down the ground by Pujara off Starc! 16 of the 17 runs ChePu has scored so far have come in boundaries! Starc, meanwhile, responds with a beauty in the next delivery, bowling a short-of-length ball that goes narrowly past the outside edge before landing in the keeper's gloves. Pujara later flicks through the midwicket region in the penultimate ball, getting enough time to come back for a second.

20:33 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 14 overs,India 70/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 37 , Cheteshwar Pujara 13)

FOUR! Just when the Aussies were starting to build some pressure on the Indians with a series of dot balls, Rohit manages to punch a short-of-length ball from Boland through point to collect his sixth four. Boland responds with a snorter two balls later, one that glides narrowly close to the Indian skipper's helmet. Rohit can't do much about that other than bending his back to get out of the way.
 

20:29 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 13 overs,India 66/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 33 , Cheteshwar Pujara 13)

A much better over from Starc with just one coming off it, with Rohit pulling a short-of-length delivery bowled over the wicket from the left-arm pacer towards leg long in the third ball.

20:26 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 12 overs,India 65/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 32 , Cheteshwar Pujara 13)

Good over from Boland, who collects the first maiden of the innings. Challenges Pujara's outside edge in the fourth delivery with the ball that kicks up slightly higher than expected and nips away in the last second. Two balls later, Boland gets one to move back in sharply, hitting Pujara on the thigh pad.

20:16 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 11 overs,India 65/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 32 , Cheteshwar Pujara 13)

FOUR! Starc is leaking too many runs at the moment. Fires one down leg to Pujara, who simply tickles this past the keeper towards the vacant fine leg fence to collect an easy boundary. Leg bye added to the Indian total in the following delivery, with the ball rolling away towards fine leg where Cummins has now placed a fielder. Starc has been expensive so far, leaking 26 runs in three overs, and might get replaced soon.

20:08 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 9 overs,India 53/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 30 , Cheteshwar Pujara 4)

FOUR! Short-arm pull by Rohit off Starc, and the Indian skipper once again manages to pick the gap between two converging fielders behind square on the leg side. Follows up with a square drive two balls later to collect two boundaries in three balls, moving to 30 and bringing up the fifty for Team India in the process.

20:02 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

The Australians make their way to the centre, with Scott Boland set to bowl out the remaining deliveries of his fourth over. Cheteshwar Pujara joins skipper Rohit Sharma at the centre following Shubman Gill's dismissal at the stroke of tea, and the Indian No 3 will hope to make up for his early dismissal in the first innings, in which he ended up shouldering his arms to a delivery that swung in and crashed onto the stumps.

19:45 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

OUT! Cameron Green pulls off another superb catch at gully, this time with his left hand as Scott Boland ends up dismissing Shubman Gill for a second time in the World Test Championship final! Gill gets a thick outside edge that normally would've run away through the gap between the slip cordon and gully. Green's wide wingspan, however, means it falls within his reach, and he does a brilliant job and lunging to his left and pulling off a low grab. Gill's not convinced though and stands his ground, with the umpires taking this upstairs. The TV umpire though, assumes Green got his finger under the ball when it came close to the ground, and rules it to be a fair catch, much to the Indians' disappointment. IND 41/1

With that, tea has been taken on Day 4 of the penultimate day, with India needing another 403 runs to win with nine wickets in hand.

Gill c Green b Boland 18(19)

19:31 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

SIX! Didn't take long for Rohit Sharma to bring out his trademark pull shot as he comfortably clears the long leg fence to move to 20! Expensive start for MItchell Starc, replacing Pat Cummins in the attack. IND 34/0

19:27 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 6 overs,India 28/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 14 , Shubman Gill 14)

First boundary-free over for Cummins as he gives away just one in his third over. Gill survives a close shave off Boland's bowling in the following over. Gets an outside edge in the second delivery, with the ball landing just short of Steve Smith at second slip. Collects a couple of doubles later in the over. A little over 10 minutes left for tea on Day 4.

19:19 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 4 overs,India 23/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 14 , Shubman Gill 9)

FOUR! And now a boundary off Boland, as Rohit flicks a pitched up delivery through the midwicket region to collect his third boundary of the chase. The Indian skipper follows it up with a couple of well-judged leaves.

19:11 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 3 overs,India 19/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 10 , Shubman Gill 9)

FOUR! Another boundary to Rohit off Cummins, this time with a lovely drive down the ground past mid on! Confident start for the Indian skipper! Gill then helps himself to consecutive boundaries later in the over, with a solid punch square of the wicket followed by an outside edge that sends the ball scurrying away between gully and the slip cordon. Good over for India, one that will boost their confidence big time, with 13 coming off it.

19:09 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 2 overs,India 6/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 5 , Shubman Gill 1)

Scott Boland shares the new ball with skipper Cummins, and not Mitch Starc. Two singles from the over, with Shubman Gill opening his account in the process.

19:05 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! Rohit Sharma opens India's account in their run chase in style with a confident pull behind square off Pat Cummins. Two fielders converge near the backward square-leg boundary, only to watch the ball slip between them and cross the rope. IND 4/0

19:02 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

Australia skipper Pat Cummins gets ready to send down the first over of the Indian chase that will be commenced by his Indian counterpart Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Australia will hope to get an early wicket or two before tea and have the game in their pocket in the process.
 

18:59 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

418 is the highest target successfully chased in the history of Test cricket, achieved by West Indies against Australia two decades ago. The same at The Oval, where the World Test Championship final is currently taking place, is 263 achieved by England, also against Australia, more than a century ago in 1902.

India, will need to pull off something special across the four-and-a-half sessions if they are to end up on the winning side. Even a draw will be something of a victory for them from here, though knowing this side, they will be gunning for the ultimate glory.

18:54 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 84.3 overs,Australia 270/8 ( Alex Carey (W) 66 , )

OUT! Australia declare on 270/8 soon as Pat Cummins (5) is dismissed by Mohammed Shami. Cummins, who had collected a boundary in the previous over, gets a thick leading edge, resulting in a simple catch for substitute fielder Axar Patel near cover.

That leaves India needing 444 to win the World Test Championship Final and end their decade-long wait for an ICC trophy!

Cummins c sub (Axar) b Shami 5(5)

18:42 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 84 overs,Australia 269/7 ( Alex Carey (W) 66 , Pat Cummins (C) 5)

FOUR! Cummins decides to take the aerial route against Siraj in just his second delivery that he faces, collecting a boundary as a result after getting off the mark right away with a single. With that, Australia's lead goes past the 450-mark! Drinks brought out to the field at the end of the over. Quite a warm day in London today, and the players will be more than happy to see some beverages being brought out.

18:34 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

OUT! Edged... and taken! Starc's little cameo comes to an end as he ends up getting a thick edge towards the slip cordon, where Kohli latches on to the ball. Pat Cummins is seen padded up in the dressing room and decides to put on his helmet right after the wicket, meaning Australia will bat on for a little longer. AUS 260/7; lead by 433

Starc c Kohli b Shami 41

18:32 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

FOUR! FOUR! Starc gets on the backfoot and pulls a short-of-length delivery from Shami in front of square with authority. Follows it up with a solid cut behind point to make it back-to-back fours off the senior pacer. He moves to the 40s in the process. Swings his bat in the next delivery as well, but this time misses completely as the ball lands in the keeper's gloves. AUS 260/6; lead by 433

18:29 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 82 overs,Australia 252/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 64 , Mitchell Starc 33)

Sure enough, Siraj is brought back for another burst, this time with the second new ball, replacing Umesh in the attack. Ten off his first over of the new spell, including five wides after a steep bouncer goes over the keeper as Australia go past the 250-mark now.

18:22 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 81 overs,Australia 242/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 63 , Mitchell Starc 29)

Rohit decides to take the second new ball right away and gives it to Shami, who replaces Jadeja in the attack, hoping to break the partnership. Expect Siraj to replace Umesh from the other end. Carey, meanwhile, moves into the 60s with a boundary off an inside edge that flies past keeper Bharat off the last ball of the over.

18:19 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 80 overs,Australia 236/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 58 , Mitchell Starc 29)

FOUR! Starc continues to target Umesh, smashing a length ball down the ground. Carey has seven boundaries in nearly a hundred deliveries. Starc has five in less than half as many balls. Meanwhile, the second new ball is now available to the Indians.

18:13 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 79 overs,Australia 229/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 56 , Mitchell Starc 24)

FOUR! Australia's lead goes past 400 now! Carey gets a thick outside edge off a quicker delivery from Jadeja, with the ball going past slip and running away to the third man fence. Carey collects a single off the last delivery to keep the strike.

18:05 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

Fifty up for Alex Carey in 82 deliveries, his fourth in Tests! The wicketkeeper-batter brings up the milestone with a single off Ravindra Jadeja's bowling. Had narrowly missed out on the milestone in the first innings. AUS 223/6; lead by 396

18:04 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE

After 76 overs,Australia 222/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 49 , Mitchell Starc 24)

FOUR! FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for Starc, who is more than handy a batter down the order for Australia! Clips the ball past the man at mid on in the penultimate ball of the 76th before producing an even more exquisite shot, driving the ball down the ground with a touch of authority. Brings up the fifty partnership with Carey in the process! Eight off Umesh's 15th over. Australia's lead now worth 395.