India’s top order comprising Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli departed cheaply in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) Final at the Oval in England, leaving the Indian cricket fans in huge disappointment. While skipper Rohit was dismissed for 15 runs, his opening partner Gill returned to the pavilion after scoring just 13 runs. Meanwhile, Pujara and Virat couldn’t do much as well and added only 14 runs each.
It is worth mentioning that batting first, Australia put up a great show in the WTC Final 2023 and ended their innings with a score of 469. Travis Head top-scored for his team with brilliant 163 runs off 174 deliveries. On the other hand, Steve Smith also hammered an impressive century for the Aussies and scored 121 runs.
After bowling Australia out, India were expected to start well as the pitch seemed to be batting-friendly the way the Aussies batted throughout their innings. However, the expectations backfired as India lost early wickets and were pushed on the backfoot by the Australian side. India lost their top four batters with just 70 runs on the board.
The failure of the top four of India in the summit clash left fans heartbroken, and they didn’t shy away from expressing their disappointment on social media. Many even lashed out at the star India batters and called them out for failing at big moments.
Here’s how fans reacted:
This is how we are batting in a final of WTC. Just disheartening to see this as Indian fan 💔💔 pic.twitter.com/m9zOJDYHvk
— ANSHUMAN🚩 (@AvengerReturns) June 8, 2023
Virat, Rohit, Pujara and Gill are big names in world cricket..they should show up in the second innings to salvage some pride for team India by coming together…#WTC23 pic.twitter.com/L6mZ2a6QkX
— AKDhillon (@kauraverjit) June 9, 2023
No one will curse Rohit, Kohli, Gill and Pujara but if Rahane gets out early his cricket career will be declared as dead. Big names hide behind the "name" tag. #WTCFinal2023 .
— Prakhar (@prafusion) June 8, 2023
Pujara for Pujara for
County cricket wtc finals pic.twitter.com/PJaBoPzIZf— SwatKat💃 (@swatic12) June 8, 2023
Can't handle Captaincy
Can't Bat
Can't field
Can't stay fit
Rohit Sharma The biggest Choker of cricket pic.twitter.com/4GyoccqY9W— Kevin (@imkevin149) June 8, 2023
Ball leaving masterclass from Shubman Gill pic.twitter.com/NH1VKh1JB4
— Yash (@CSKYash_) June 8, 2023
What a good holiday trip for Virat-Anushka, Rohit-Ritika And Others in London 🇬🇧 @BCCI is nothing but another MakeMyTrip
— 🐰 (@firki07) June 8, 2023
Pujara watching ICT fans abusing Rohit and Virat with him getting away again pic.twitter.com/nYK5y42GbT
— retired ICT fan (@anubhav__tweets) June 8, 2023
Tendulkar didnt eat for 3 days after he got out early in that 2003 WC final
Meanwhile Kohli after getting out early in #WTCFinal2023 pic.twitter.com/AOJHMsKPor
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) June 8, 2023
This is Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill chilling and laughing after throwing their wickets and leaving India in trouble in Final of an ICC tournament but somehow their fans will blame IPL for their bad performances where they clearly don't seem to care much about Indian cricket team pic.twitter.com/Y5SaXRt4dh
— Yash (@CSKYash_) June 8, 2023
Among all the players who played on this flat pitch, only Virat Kohli was surprised with extra bounce. You talk about Luck 🙃#INDvAUS #WTC23Final pic.twitter.com/XopRoIgQcl
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) June 8, 2023
Other players have the excuse that they are
🏏Playing International cricket all year long
🏏They just came from IPL T20 Format and are fatigued
🏏They reached England just a week ago hence not used to conditions
🏏Their main forte is white ball cricketWhat reasons does Pujara…
— Vinay Kumar Dokania (@VinayDokania) June 8, 2023
These Typical ICT fans 😂😂🤡🤡
Blaming Ipl for their flop show 😂😂
Meanwhile JADDU RAHANE SIRAJ were the ones who have played better till now
What about PUJARA …he played county cricket right ?
Funny thing is PUJARA got out to Cameron Green who was also playing IPL 🤣🤣
— King Johnny Depp (@C__JohnnyDepp) June 9, 2023
Ajinkya Rahane playing with his injured finger .
Where we have players like Virat Kohli and shameless Shubman Gill👍 pic.twitter.com/YrmjpQZ5EQ
— π (@Tujomilaa) June 8, 2023
@imVkohli और @ShubmanGill तुम सिर्फ आईपीएल में पैसे के लिए अच्छा खेलना जानते हो और जब बात देश की आती है तब तुम्हरे बल्ले को जंग लग जाता है @BCCI कितने भी कप्तान बदल ले मगर अब कोई आईसीसी ट्रॉफी देश में आना ना मुमकिन हैएक ही था @msdhoni जो यह कर सकता था #ViratKohli𓃵 #WTC23Final
— 🇮🇳 Bharat maratha 🇮🇳 (@buchade_bharat) June 9, 2023
Once again, Jadeja looked India's best batter and he is now a bonafide top 6 batter. And till that finger injury, Rahane looked very smooth and in excellent touch. But the top order is a concern and has to convert good looking starts into large scores.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/somnath1978/status/1667012221396996102
The Indian Test side will have to make some long-term decisions – retirement plans for batting stars, assumed absence of certain fast bowlers etc.
With the new WTC cycle, they need to invest in youth, than try ad-hoc solutions.
Who will ask Rohit & Kohli to go?#WTCFinal2023
— Vijay A (@VAAChandran) June 9, 2023
