The Day 4 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final turned out to be an evenly-matched contest at Kennington Oval, London. Despite good cricket in patches from India, Australia set a gigantic 444-run target which will require a herculean attempt from Indian batters to even get close to. With 280 more runs needed on Day 5 on a pitch that has not deteriorated much and Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane in the middle, India have reason to believe that the game is still in the balance and set for an ultimate showdown.
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami exuded confidence after the end of Day 4 and affirmed that everyone believes India can create history of Day 5.
"100 per cent everyone believes that tomorrow we will win the match. Because we have always fought. We perform well around the world. Not here only. So, we believe and we always come together to win this match," Shami said at the press conference.
"According to me, if you bat well, 280 runs - is not a big score. So, according to me, you should bat normally in a Test match. You should focus on playing ball by ball. You should not look at the long target. So, according to me, chances of success are higher there. When you keep small goals and targets, you will get more success. So, according to me, you should play normally," Shami concluded.
After a brisk knock of 43 runs from captain Rohit Sharma, Kohli and Rahane took India's innings forward by playing positive cricket. Kohli remained unbeaten on 44 runs while Rahane picked up from where he left in the first innings and scored 20 not out before the stumps of Day 4. India ended Day 4 on 164/3, leaving 280 runs for Day 5.
If Kohli and Rahane negate the first hour, India will be in with a real chance of ending their ICC trophy drought. The duo will have to bat of their skin if India plans to rewrite history at The Oval. Who better than the greatest contemporary batter and in-form Rahane to lead India's charge?
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