WTC Final 2023: When India last played at Oval and thrashed England by 157 runs despite 1st innings collapse

In the final of the inaugural season in 2021, they were handed a 8-wicket defeat by New Zealand in Southampton. The chance to be called the member of the Test champion side will be the last for a handful of Indian players. Notably, the next WTC final is expected to be played in 2025.

By that time, the likes of Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Umesh Yadav are very likely to have retired from the format. Quite naturally, India are expected to give it their all and the result of the last match they played at The Oval in London is going to motivate them.

India last played at The Oval (Kennington Oval) in September 2021. Up against Joe Root-led England, Virat Kohli’s India were asked to bat first. The England pace quartet of James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Chirs Woakes and Craig Overton did their job handsomely to bundle out India for 191.

Shardul Thakur top-scored for India with 57 runs. Then captain Kohli smashed 50 off 96. Chris Woakes (4/55) and Ollie Robinson (3/38) were the leading wicket-takers for their team.

In reply, England ended their first innings at 290 courtesy an 81-run innings from Ollie Pope and 50 from Chris Woakes. Umesh Yadav picked three wickets, while Umesh Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja picked two wickets apiece. Shardul Thakur (1/54) and Mohammed Siraj (1/42) were the other two bowlers in the side.

Despite conceding a 99-run lead, India turned the match on its head by their batting in the second innings. Rohit Sharma (127) opened a brilliant hundred at the top, while Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur hit fifties. Kohli again chipped in with 44 as India posted solid 466 runs on the board.

Set a target of 368, the England opening pair of Rory Burns (50 off 125) and Haseeb Hameed (63 off 193) forged together a 100-run partnership. The hosts finished Day 4 on 77/0 and put them in a solid position to grab a stunning win.

But once Shardul (2/22) removed Burns early on Day 5, it was a mayhem at The Oval. Hameed was clean bowled by Jadeja (2/50) before Bumrah (2/27) joined the party to remove Ollie Pope (2) and Jonny Bairstow (0). Once Jadeja cleaned up Moeen Ali and Shardul castled Root (36 off 78), England were reduced to 182.7.

The tail was soon wrapped up by Umesh (3/60) as India won the match by 157 runs. The win helped India take a 2-1 lead in the 5-Test series which was eventually completed in the next year due to Covid-19 and ended in a 2-2 draw. Rohit Sharma was adjudged Man of the Match for his first and only hundred in England.