ICC WTC Final, AUS vs IND: India players ratings

India faced defeat at the hands of Australia by a huge margin of 209 runs in the ICC WTC 2023 final.

India's pursuit of an elusive ICC title faced disappointment once again as they suffered a humbling defeat by a margin of 209 runs against Pat Cummins and his team in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval. Needing 444 runs to win in the second innings, India faltered and were dismissed for 234, allowing Australia to clinch victory in the opening session of the final day.

Australia's dominance began on Day 1, with outstanding centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith propelling them to a formidable total of 469 in the first innings. Despite a resilient 89 by Ajinkya Rahane, supported by vital contributions from Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja that helped India avoid the follow-on, the top order struggled to make an impact.

India showed signs of a comeback in the second innings, but a solid 93-run partnership between Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc guided Australia to a declaration at 270/8.

Facing a target of 444, India reached 164/3 at the end of Day 4. However, Scott Boland's early breakthroughs on the final day, dismissing Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja in the same over, dealt a severe blow to India's hopes. Kohli fell to a slip catch by Steve Smith after scoring 49, while Jadeja departed without scoring, caught behind. Rahane displayed some attacking shots before being dismissed by Mitchell Starc for 46. Shardul Thakur, who impressed with a half-century in the first innings, failed to make an impact this time. As wickets continued to tumble, it was Nathan Lyon who delivered the final blow, sealing the victory for Australia.

Here are the player ratings for the Indian side based on their performances in the match:

Rohit Sharma - 4/10

Rohit showed promise in the second innings with a solid knock of 43 runs but was unable to convert it into a bigger score. His captaincy decisions were scrutinized, particularly for not picking R Ashwin and not adopting a short-ball tactic against Travis Head early on.

Shubman Gill - 3/10

Gill displayed glimpses of his talent but couldn't convert his starts into substantial innings. He was controversially given out in the second innings, but his form from the recent IPL didn't carry forward.

Cheteshwar Pujara - 3/10

Pujara, who had been leading Sussex in the County Championship, was expected to perform well in familiar conditions. However, he disappointed with scores of 14 in the first innings and getting dismissed due to an uncharacteristic shot in the second.

Virat Kohli - 4.5/10

Kohli looked confident during his time at the crease but couldn't convert his starts into big scores. He made 14 and 49 in the two innings, falling victim to Mitchell Starc's bounce in the first innings. He made technical adjustments to his stance in the second innings but ultimately fell short.

Ajinkya Rahane - 7.5/10

Rahane played a vital role in providing respectability to India's first innings, scoring a crucial 89 runs. He formed important partnerships with Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur. However, his dismissal at a critical moment in the second innings was a disappointment.

Ravindra Jadeja - 5/10

Jadeja contributed with both bat and ball. He utilized the rough to his advantage in the second innings, taking three wickets and being the most successful bowler for India. He also played a significant role in the first innings with a quickfire 48. However, he was dismissed for a duck in the second innings.

KS Bharat - 4/10

Bharat performed well behind the stumps, displaying good wicketkeeping skills. However, his batting needs improvement to contribute more effectively, particularly since Rishabh Pant was unavailable due to injury.

Shardul Thakur - 6/10

Thakur equalled Don Bradman's record by scoring a gritty fifty in the first innings, which kept India in the game. He also contributed with key wickets, dismissing David Warner and Steven Smith when they were least expected. However, he couldn't replicate his batting success in the second innings.

Umesh Yadav - 3/10

Umesh had an expensive spell in the first innings, conceding several boundaries early on. However, he managed to pick up important wickets, including Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne in the second innings. His control and consistency remained a concern.

Mohammed Shami - 5/10

Shami was sensational with the new ball, troubling the Australian batsmen with his seam position. However, the lack of a formidable backup meant that he bowled a significant number of overs, and fatigue set in towards the end.

Mohammed Siraj - 6/10

Siraj assumed a significant workload in the fast bowling department and showcased his prowess with precise lines and lengths, resulting in him claiming 4 wickets in the first innings. He delivered remarkable spells, notably using well-directed short balls to rouse Labuschagne from his slumber on day three. Nevertheless, there were instances where he proved to be a bit costly.