South African batting legend AB De Villiers heaped an ultimate praise on Team India's saviour Ajinkya Rahane, who rescued Rohit Sharma's brigade from a precarious position on Day 3 of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia.
India were reeling at 152/6 on Day 3 after their top-order collapsed like a house of cards but Rahane combined with Shardul Thakur to launch team's fightback. The dazzling duo weaved a crucial 109-run partnership to help India post a respectable total of 296 in reply to Australia's 469.
While salvaging India's pride Rahane struck a spellbinding 89 off 129 balls riding on 11 fours and a six and Shardul played an impressive knock of 51 off 109 which was decorated with six boundaries.
AB De Villiers lavishes praise on Rahane
Rahane's heroics grabbed the attention of AB De Villiers who lavished immense praise on the veteran batter and his brilliant technique. De Villiers replied to Harsha Bhogle's tweet which read,'Once again, Jadeja looked India's best batter and he is now a bonafide top 6 batter. And till that finger injury, Rahane looked very smooth and in excellent touch. But the top order is a concern and has to convert good looking starts into large scores.'
"I've never seen Rahane move so well! Technique is sound and playing it late," De Villiers replied to Bhogle's tweet.
Notably, Rahane made a comeback to India's Test squad after January 2022 after putting up an exceptional show with the willow in the domestic circuit and the recently concluded Indian Premier League 2023.
Barring Rahane, Shardul and Jadeja (48), Indian batting fizzled out in India's first innings. When India needed them the most, the likes of Rohit Sharma (15), Virat Kohli (14), Shubman Gill (13), Cheteshwar Pujara (14) perished under pressure to put the team on the brink of defeat.
Talking about the match, with a 173-run lead in the kitty, Australian openers came out to bat but India needed early breakthroughs. Mohammed Siraj drew first blood to get rid of the dangerous David Warner on the third ball of fourth over. Warner scored just a single. The next man to return to pavilion was Usman Khawaja (13) who fell in Umesh Yadav's trap and edged the ball which travelled straight to Srikar Bharat's gloves. Ravindra Jadeja didn't let Australian batters heave a sigh in relief, not even for a moment, and dismissed the first innings' centurions Steve Smith (34) and Travis Head (18).
At the close of Day 3's play, Australia's scoreboard read 123/4 with a 296-run lead. Labuschagne remained unbeaten for 41 off 118 balls whereas Green scored seven runs.
SPORTS TAK:
WTC Final: Smith brutally trolled after asking Indian spectator in red dress to move from his seat at the Oval
Labuschagne reveals reason behind taking a nap during Australia's batting on Day 3 of WTC final against India
