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While there was a lot of expectation from Rohit Sharma the skipper after the leadership baton was handed over to him from Virat Kohli to deliver an International Cricket Council (ICC) title, so far he has not been to deliver the same. Team India were outplayed in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup last year when Rohit was at the helm of affairs and now saw his team lose in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. After the match, the 36-year-old called for a 3-match WTC finals and not a one-off game like this time.
“I would like to play the 3-Test match series for the WTC Final. We worked hard and we fought but we played just 1 game. I think a 3-match series would be ideal in the next WTC cycle,” Rohit said in the post-match press conference after India’s 209-run loss against Australia.
Despite there being some merit in his statement, the same is unlikely to happen anytime in the future. This is because there is hardly any gap in the international cricket calendar to make way for a 3-match WTC final. More matches will make it even more congested and cramped which would not be ideal for either the players or even fans who may experience spectator fatigue.
Talking about the WTC Final 2023, India won the toss and put Australia into bat in overcast conditions. They even got an early wicket with Mohammed Siraj removing Usman Khawaja for a duck. However, the Indian bowlers allowed the Kangaroos to make a comeback and both Travis Head and Steve Smith notched up hundred as Australia posted 469.
In sharp contrast, the Indian top-order failed miserably and after a spirited effort from Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur managed to score 296. In the second innings, India did put on a better show with the ball but Australia’s 270/8 declaration meant the Men in Blue needed 444 to win in the final innings but India were bowled out for 234 to taste their second successive WTC final defeat.
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