India vs Australia, WTC Final 2023, Day 2: Australia's Bowling Attack Run Through India's Top-Order - In Pics

The failure of India's famed top-order against a high-quality pace attack in a pressure game put Australia in firm control of the World Test Championship final in London on Thursday. Ravindra Jadeja (48 off 51 balls) and Ajinkya Rahane (29 batting off 71) offered hope to the partisan Indian supporters at The Oval with a 71-run stand off 100 balls before the former fell to Nathan Lyon 20 minutes before close of play. India were reeling at 151 for five at stumps in response to Australia's first innings score of 469, trailing by 318 runs. While the Indian bowlers failed to use the bouncer effectively on day one, the likes of Shubman Gill (13) and Cheteshwar Pujara (14) committed the cardinal sin of misjudging the line and length on a pitch with variable bounce. Indian superstar Virat Kohli (14) got a snorter from Mitchell Starc that he could not do much about, leaving India at 71 for four. Rahane and Jadeja tried to hang in there but the Aussie pacers were constantly asking questions.

Updated: 09 Jun 2023 9:16 am

WTC Final 2023, Day 2: India vs Australia | Photo: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth

India's Srikar Bharat, left and India's Ajinkya Rahane walks off the pitch after the end of play on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

WTC Final 2023, Day 2: India vs Australia | Photo: AP/PTI

India's Ravindra Jadeja, left looks round as he is caught out by Australia's Steven Smith , as Australia's wicketkeeper Alex Careyon starts to celebrate on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

India's Ajinkya Rahane plays a shot on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

India's Ravindra Jadejaplays a shot on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

India's Ajinkya Rahane reacts after being hit on the thumb by a ball bowled by Australia's Pat Cummins on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

India's Virat Kohli walks off the pitch after being given out caught by Australia's Steven Smith off the bowling of Australia's Mitchell Starc on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

India's Cheteshwar Pujara walks off the pitch after being given out bowled by Australia's Cameron Green on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

India's Rohit Sharma plays a shot on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

India's Mohammed Siraj, right celebrates with India's Axar Pate, (20), a substitute, who ran Australia's Mitchell Starc out on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

India's Mohammed Shami, left celebrates with India's Cheteshwar Pujara after taking the wicket of Australia's Cameron Green who was caught by India's Shubman Gill on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

India's Mohammed Siraj, second right, celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Travis Head caught behind on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.

Australia's Travis Head celebrates after scoring 150 runs not out on the second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia at The Oval cricket ground in London.