Virat Kohli congratulates Indian teammates for reaching the WTC final:
Before the start of the second session in the Ahmedabad Test between India and Australia, India were given the happy and relieving news that they have qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) final after New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka in one of the most thrilling Test matches finishes in Christchurch.
It had been a nervous few days for India since they lost the Indore Test, which gave Sri Lanka a chance to remain in contention for the WTC final. For Dimuth Karunaratne’s side to reach the WTC fina, Sri Lanka had to not only whitewash New Zealand 2-0 but also hope for India to not win the Ahmedabad Test.
While the Ahmedabad Test was heading to a dull draw, on the flattest surface of this series, New Zealand won by 2 wickets in Christchurch, courtesy of former skipper Kane Williamson‘s superb 121* runs knock and Daryl Mitchell scoring a quickfire 86-ball 81, chasing down the target of 285 in 70 overs, with the last run coming as a bye on the last ball of the game.
India learned this news when during the Lunch break.
As the Indian players re-entered the ground in the Narendra Modi stadium to resume in the second session, they made a huddle in which former captain Virat Kohli shook hands with each member of the team, congratulating the players for reaching the WTC final.
Watch: Virat Kohli shakes hands with all India players, congratulating them for reaching the WTC final:
Virat kohli congratulate every player. For qualified in WTC final !
Once a leader, always a leader !#viratkohli #kingkohli @imvkohli #wtcfinal pic.twitter.com/EbqDmkfQ4W— ༄vk᭄♛Riju18᭄ ♛ (@RijuNandi9025) March 13, 2023
This result in Christchurch knocked Sri Lanka out of the WTC final race and propelled India in the WTC final, regardless of the outcome in Ahmedabad.
India and Australia will meet in the WTC final at The Oval from June 7
The outcome in Ahmedabad was a dull, boring draw, with the players calling off the draw early in the third session. India got a little hope of a victory in the morning when Ashwin dismissed the nightwatchman Matthew Kuhnemann. However, after that Head and Labuschagne simply killed the contest with their good defensive play, taking Australia into Lunch without losing their wickets.
In the second session, Axar bowled Head for 10 runs short of a century, but Labuschagne, with Steve Smith, played out the balls comfortably on a lifeless pitch, and eventually, everyone decided there was no point of playing more with a draw inevitable.
India take the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 series 2-1.
