Virat Kohli Carrying India Hopes for Ultimate Test in WTC Final, Needs 280 Runs to Win
Virat Kohli has steered India to victory many times before, but will now have to make history to lead a run chase that snatches the ICC World Test Championship mace from Australia.
India will begin the last day of the WTC Final needing 280 more runs to reach their target of 444 and complete perhaps the greatest fourth-innings run chase in Test history.
A successful fourth-innings chase in the WTC Final would smash not just the record of 262 at The Oval, but break the all-time benchmark of 418 set by the West Indies against Australia in 2003.
But with Kohli and Rahane still at the crease, there remains a glimmer of hope.
Kohli will set out on day five of the WTC Final with 44* already on the scoreboard, with Ajinkya Rahane (20*) to partner the former India skipper as they look to create history against Australia.
It is the sort of burden Kohli is not only prepared to bear, but actively seeks out.
All results are still possible at The Oval and the prospect of the match finishing in a draw remains a chance.
As per item 16.3.3 of the Playing Conditions for the World Test Championship Final, the mace will be shared and the prize money distributed equally among the two finalists should the match finish in a draw:
“If the match is drawn, tied, or abandoned, the teams shall be declared joint winners of the ICC World Test Championship,” the condition reads.
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