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With hazy World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final chances, Team India commenced the Border-Gavaskar 2023 series against Australia on February 9. It was a task cut out for Rohit Sharma's brigade who knew that it won't be possible for them to make it to the WTC 2023 final without winning the Border-Gavaskar series convincingly. But the way they kicked off the four-match series against Australia in Nagpur made it clear that India won't settle for anything but victory. After clinching back-to-back convincing victories in the first two Tests India proved that they the biggest contenders for the WTC title. Cut to Sunday, March 13, despite the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series ended in a draw, India set the WTC final date with Australia for the WTC final which will be played at Oval from June 7 to June 11, but the journey wasn't easy for Team India.
Amid the fourth Test between India and Australia on Sunday (March 13), Rohit's brigade got the news that New Zealand had defeated Sri Lanka in a thrilling first Test. After losing the third Test to Australia in Indore badly, India's fortune depended on the outcome of the Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. But New Zealand's last-ball victory over Sri Lanka in Christchurch paved the way for India to make it to the WTC final.
It will be India's second successive appearance in the all-important WTC final. But India have a pretty scary record at The Oval where the WTC final clash will be held.
India's embarrassing show at the Oval
India have mostly tasted embarrassment, when it comes to their track record at the Oval. Since 1936 to 2021, India have played a total of 14 matches at the Oval, out of which they have only won two games. They have suffered defeats on five occasions while seven matches have been drawn. Out of 24 innings they have played on this ground, India's highest score has remained 664 while 94 is their lowest total. So India need to be a little wary of their not so impressive show at the Oval and if they want to get off their demons, they need to put up an exceptional show in order to excel at the Oval and win the WTC title this time. Notably, in the first edition of the WTC final, India had to suffer a defeat against New Zealand.
Talking about the India's journey to the WTC final, they first defeated England 2-1. However, they had to suffer defeat in the fifth and last Test. But they they made a comeback and got the better of New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Australia in their respective Test series to make it to the WTC 2023 final.
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