‘Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane needed to put on a big partnership’ – Glenn McGrath reflects on India’s WTC final loss

Glenn McGrath. (Photo Source : Gettyimages)

Legendary Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath believes that if Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane had formed a strong partnership, India may have won the 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. On Day 5 of the WTC final on Sunday, June 11, India suffered a crushing 209-run defeat against the Pat Cummins-led Australia at The Oval in London.

McGrath stated that the English conditions vary from those in which team India plays at home. He also stated that these types of incidents will happen and it’s called that bit of dressing room pressure.

“Sometimes, it can happen like that. Yeah, conditions in England are a lot different to what Indian cricket has been playing in. Sometimes that happens that way, it’s called that bit of dressing room pressure,” McGrath was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The Aussie went on to say that both India and Australia haven’t played much Test cricket recently. He also said that Kohli and Rahane needed to put on a big partnership on the final day.

“Both teams haven’t played a lot of Test cricket lately but that’s the way it goes. You get on a bit of a roll going into that last day, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane needed to put on a big partnership. You lose an early wicket, that can happen. It’s a one-off Test match. I wouldn’t be too concerned.”

McGrath speaks about Shubman Gill’s controversial catch in WTC final

While speaking about the controversial catch by Australian all-rounder Cameroon Green to remove India opener Shubman Gill, McGrath stated that most of those catches are out and he was happy with it. The 53-year-old further said that if India had taken the catch, he would have been happy too, adding he was not speaking from an Australian’s perspective.

“I think most of those catches are out. We find ways to give it not out which I like to go the other way. So, I was happy with it. And if it was India taking that catch, I would have been happy too. I’m not just saying from an Australian perspective but the way it goes,” McGrath said.