India vs Australia, WTC Final 2023: Three uncanny similarities in India’s Top Four batting stats

The star-studded Indian batting made a hapless surrender in front of a robust Australian bowling attack at the London ground and find themselves 318 runs behind with half a side back in the pavilion ahead of Day 3 of WTC Final 2023.

It was a worrisome batting display from India’s top four, who couldn’t deal with the Aussie pacers. All of them got a start but then faltered, failing to capitalize on their knock on a pitch which was not a batter’s graveyard by any means.

India captain Rohit Sharma made a decent start but was picked up by Australian captain Pat Cummins. Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara both decided to leave a ball which nipped back and broke their timbers. And then India’s batting supremo Virat Kohli got a screamer from Mitchell Starc and was expertly caught at slip by Steve Smith, as India were reeling at 71 for 4 at one stage.

But in the knocks of the four Indian batters, we found out two unique stats, which may not have happened in Test cricket ever. We can guarantee it hasn’t happened ever in a WTC cycle.

India’s top four departed from 13 to 15

All of India’s top four batsmen went out in an individual score between 13 to 15 in the first innings. Rohit Sharma was the highest among them with a score of 15, whereas Shubman Gill was gone for 13 runs. Both Pujara and Kohli could also manage 14 runs each before departing.

Rohit Sharma – 15 off 26 balls

Shubman Gill – 13 off 15 balls

Cheteshwar Pujara – 14 off 25 balls

Virat Kohli – 14 off 31 balls

All of India’s top four batters hit 2 boundaries each

All of the aforementioned four batters hit two fours each in the innings. Shubman Gill has the best strike rate among them with 86, whereas Kohli had the worst (45). It is also a WTC Final record where the top four batters of a team manage two boundaries each in a single inning.

India’s Ravindra Jadeja has hit the most boundaries for them in 7 so far, with unbeaten Ajinkya Rahane hitting four boundaries as well.

A single before getting out – All Four of them

In another uncanny yet stunning fact, all of the Indian top-four batters’ final scoring shot was a single. Rohit, Gill, Pujara and Kohli – everyone of them scored a single before getting out in the first innings.

Although this is not a unique stat, but it is kind of unique though, aint’ it!