Twitter Reactions: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane revive Indian hopes on hard-fought fourth day : The Tribune India

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Twitter Reactions: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane revive Indian hopes on hard-fought fourth day

Australia are still the favourites to claim the title after setting a daunting target, but with Kohli at the crease, India can dare to dream.

Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli
Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

India's hopes of ending their drought in ICC events lie on the shoulders of senior batters Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane as the World Test Championship Final moves into a compelling Day 5. Australia are still the favourites to claim the title after setting a daunting target, but with Kohli at the crease, India can dare to dream.

The day started with Australia losing star batter Marnus Labuschagne without adding to his overnight score. The Indian pacers were on song in the morning session and were looking to make quick work of the Australian lower-middle order.

However, a determined Cameron Green and Alex Carey thwarted the Indian bowlers to great effect after Labuschagne's departure. The duo were frustrating the Indian bowlers only for Ravindra Jadeja to trap Green in a cunning plan on the stroke of Lunch.

But the Australian pair of Carey and Mitchell Starc opened their shoulders after the break as the Aussie targeted quick runs before calling off their innings. Starc was in a punishing mood and played some glorious shots against a tired Indian bowling unit, while Carey registered a brisk half-century from the other end. 

Starc and skipper Pat Cummins' departure in quick succession meant that the Aussies declared their innings, setting India a daunting target of 444 runs. Despite the prospect of scaling a record-breaking total, Indian openers started the chase on a strong note. 

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane see off the final session without any fuss

However, a controversial catch saw the end of Shubman Gill's stay in the middle. Despite the loss of Gill, Rohit Sharma continued to plunder the Aussie bowlers with some of his trademark shots. He was accompanied well by middle-order bulwark Cheteshwar Pujara, only for the introduction of spin to derail the Indian skipper's innings.

Pujara also fell in the very next over as Australia started to pile the pressure on the Indian batters. Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have steadied the ship after the twin strikes as India head into the fifth day with a monumental task on their hands. 

CricTracker Desk

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