For those 55 Minutes at The Oval

During the 55 minutes at The Oval, the specific circumstances of the match seemed inconsequential. The fact that the Indian team had ended their first innings trailing by 175 runs appeared to be of little importance. The dominant position held by Australia in the Test match seemed conveniently disregarded. Within those 55 minutes, right before the tea break on Day 3, the Indian cricket fans, surrounding the historic venue, sprang to life. They held a fervent belief, defying all logic, and their newfound confidence was palpable as they created an atmosphere that injected life into the World Test Championship Final. This transformed the otherwise one-sided contest into a grand occasion it had been lacking in the preceding two days.

Virat Kohli, not content with simply playing his part as a cricketer, assumed the role of an enthusiastic conductor, urging the crowd on with his familiar gestures. He even encouraged his teammates, particularly Ravindra Jadeja, to join in the spirited support.

However, it wasn't solely about the noise. It was evident in the distinctive energy radiating from the collective roar, deeply ingrained in the essence of an Indian cricket crowd when they are fully engaged. This energy permeated through the customary cacophony created when bucket seats around the stadium were transformed into makeshift bass drums.

All of a sudden, it seemed as if Mohammed Shami was delivering unstoppable deliveries to Usman Khawaja. Out of nowhere, the sound of Mohammed Siraj charging towards David Warner felt more like a knockout punch rather than just a wicket-taking attempt. It was difficult to fault anyone for envisioning India in a dominant position, despite Australia starting their second innings with a significant lead and holding the advantage.

During that period, India bowled a total of 11 overs, with Shami, Siraj, and Shardul Thakur sharing the responsibility. Although they only managed to dismiss Warner with Siraj's delivery, the opening bowling pair consistently troubled the batsmen, creating a notable impact that kept the Indian supporters at The Oval excited.

The atmosphere in the stadium was alive throughout the day, with the crowd expressing their emotions on numerous occasions before and after that intense period. In a peculiar way, those 55 minutes of chaos encapsulated the essence of a peculiar day, where the contest always felt closer than it actually was, despite Australia maintaining a clear advantage throughout the game.

On that particular day, the Indian team showcased their worthiness for a spot in the world championship final. However, the Australian team, contrary to their expected position in the match, seemed unusually nervous and restless for a significant portion of the game, which worked in India's favor.

An example of this can be seen in Warner's dismissal. The experienced opener attempted two successive shots at deliveries from Siraj, who was bowling from over the wicket and angling the ball away, similar to his previous deliveries. Unfortunately for Warner, he managed to get a bottom-edge on the third ball. Khawaja, on the other hand, faced a similar challenge from Siraj's angled deliveries, being beaten multiple times before impulsively attempting an unnecessary drive at a wide delivery from Umesh Yadav and eventually getting caught behind.

Read more: Key Approaches for India to Reclaim Momentum on Day 2 of the WTC Final, IND vs AUS

The dismissals of the openers were indicative of the Australian team's overall uncoordinated performance on the field during the first session. It was during this phase that the Indian fans, for the first time in the match, expressed their enthusiasm, except for when Kohli walked out to bat in the first innings. As Ajinkya Rahane, playing his comeback Test, initiated a counterattack alongside Shardul Thakur, the tide began to turn against the Australian dominance. Rahane's innings was remarkable, reminiscent of his past performances, as he drove the ball with finesse and displayed his characteristic resilience in the face of adversity. Meanwhile, Thakur managed to survive numerous challenges and absorb body blows, drawing on his previous success at the same ground where he had scored two half-centuries. His innings exemplified his reputation as a dependable lower-order batsman in Test cricket.

As their partnership progressed and reached triple digits, Pat Cummins & Co began exhibiting telltale signs of a team under pressure. This was evident in their series of dropped catches, wickets taken off no-balls, and a desperate use of the DRS.

Similar to their successful performance on Australian soil two years ago, the Indian team once again demonstrated resilience and refused to surrender despite facing significant challenges. Although the gap between the two teams was wider than during their historic series victory, it wasn't solely due to Rohit Sharma and his team dominating the Australians. Instead, Australia repeatedly failed to maintain their momentum and allowed their opponents to regain control.

To their credit, the Australians remained composed despite moments of restlessness and rustiness. While Cameron Green's exceptional catch ended Rahane's innings, Steve Smith's aggressive start with the bat helped the team recover from a difficult situation following Khawaja's dismissal. Nevertheless, the Indian team continued to stay competitive, much to the delight of the partisan crowd who enthusiastically supported them.

Just when it seemed like Smith and Labuschagne had successfully quieted the Indian fans with their 61-run partnership, the vice-captain surprised everyone with an extraordinary shot, lifting the spirits of the Indian fans once again. However, their joy was short-lived as Travis Head fell victim to Ravindra Jadeja after playing another ill-advised shot. Despite this setback, the Indian fans were able to end the day on a positive note, maintaining their excitement knowing that Australia still had a commanding lead of nearly 300 runs with six wickets remaining.

This also means that on Saturday (June 10), the Indian fans will once again flock to the ground, filling it to capacity and creating an electrifying atmosphere at The Oval. They will arrive with a renewed belief that their team still has a chance to claim the elusive world title they fervently desire.

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