In a gripping encounter at the Ovals, the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia has witnessed an impressive display from the Baggy Greens, placing them in a commanding position after the first two days of play. Led by Pat Cummins, Australia showcased their batting prowess, amassing a formidable total of 469 runs, thanks to outstanding innings from Travis Head and Steve Smith. However, controversy has marred the match, with former Pakistan batter Basit Ali accusing Australian bowlers of ball tampering during India’s innings.
Opting to bat first, the Australian team showed resilience on a pitch adorned with a grassy layer. Travis Head’s remarkable knock of 163 runs from 174 deliveries and Steve Smith’s patient innings of 121 runs from 268 balls propelled Australia to a significant total. Despite the challenging pitch conditions, the Australian batters demonstrated their ability to adapt and post a formidable score.
When it was India’s turn to bat, the pitch appeared to behave differently. At the end of day two, India found themselves at a precarious position of 151/5, with only Ravindra Jadeja managing to surpass the 30-run mark. The dismissals of key players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill drew heavy criticism from spectators and pundits alike.
However, amidst the intense competition, allegations of ball tampering surfaced. Basit Ali, a former Pakistan batter, accused the Australian bowlers of tampering with the ball during the 18th over of India’s innings, resulting in the dismissals of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. Prominent sports journalist Farid Khan echoed these claims on Twitter, suggesting that the 16th, 17th, and 18th overs contained clear evidence of ball tampering, pointing to the dismissals of Kohli and Pujara as further indicators.
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has accused Australia's bowlers of ball tampering against India.
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) June 8, 2023
He says 16th, 17th and 18th overs of India's innings were clear evidence of ball tampering, Che Pujara and Virat Kohli's dismissals were also evidences of ball tampering. #WTCFinal
The ball was changed in the 18th over of the innings and in the 19th over Virat Kohli got dismissed. #WTCFinal2023 #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/ogSFHxspdO
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) June 8, 2023
Interestingly, the umpires themselves changed the ball during the 18th over after observing that it had become misshapen. Just two deliveries later, Mitchell Starc dismissed Virat Kohli due to the unexpected bounce. However, fans and supporters of the game swiftly rejected the notion of ball tampering, accusing the accusers of spreading false information and creating unnecessary controversy.
How can someone say that while sitting 1000s km away sitting on a couch as a couch potato.?
— sachai (@SachaiTruth) June 8, 2023
Thats some real strange observation.
Have u watched only the second innings of the match so far?
— Abdullah Liaquat (@imabdullah115) June 9, 2023
That uneven bounce was experienced in the first innings as well. Ball tampering, lol 😂!
Starc has brought a new variation in the market which he has been working on, as said by Ricky Ponting.
Cheteshwar Pujara ki ball bahut
— Sushil-Shaun (@itsmyconfidence) June 9, 2023
in Swing hui
Virat Kohli ko Ball opper ki taraf aur chadi
Mighty Australia 🌏🦘 Bowling attack.
Poor performance by the Indian 🇮🇳 players after Successful IPL
Despite the controversy, the focus remains on the match itself. India currently trails by 318 runs and faces an uphill battle to salvage a victory and avoid a second consecutive WTC final defeat. The team will need to summon a remarkable performance to turn the tide in their favor.
As the WTC final progresses, cricket enthusiasts around the world eagerly await further developments on the field, hoping for fair play and an enthralling contest that showcases the spirit of the game.
