WTC Final 2023: 'Lord' Shardul Thakur equals Sir Don Bradman and Allan Border record; a look at his Oval stats

WTC Final 2023: India all-rounder Shardul Thakur won hearts and hit a fighting hundred on Friday in the ongoing World Test Championship final (WTC final) against Australia at The Oval in London.

The 31-year-old Mumbai cricketer showed a lot of character despite getting hit twice on consecutive deliveries from Pat Cummins. The team physio attended Shardul on both the occasions. He had to take a painkiller during the first prolonged break due to the blow to his forearm in the 42nd over.

Shardul's partnership for the seventh wicket Ajinkya Rahane accounted for 109 runs off 145 balls. He chipped in with 37 balls off 88 runs during the period. The right-hand batter continued to put up a brave show even after the departure of Rahane.

His on-drive for a boundary off Pat Cummins in the 68th over was rated as 'shot of the day' by Ricky Ponting. On the final ball of the same over, Shardul hit another boundary through mid-off to bring up his fourth Test fifty - third at the Oval in London in as many innings.

He was dismissed for 51 off 109 by Cameron Green. He was the ninth Indian wicket to fall. The side's innings got wrapped up seven deliveries later at 296 in reply to Australia's 469.

Shardul Thakur equals Don Bradman and Allan Border's elusive Oval record

Shardul Thakur is now only the third visiting batter to hit three consecutive Test fifties at The Oval. Sir Donald Brad man was the first to achieve the feat. Former Australia captain Allan Border also hit three consecutive fifties at The Oval.

The partnership between Shardul and Rahane is only the sixth century-partnership for seventh wicket of below in an India vs England match. The 109-run partnership between Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur in 2021 was the fifth such partnership.