WTC Final 2023: Here's a look at highest successfully chases at The Oval, India needs to go beyond the history to become World Test Champions

Team India are currently looking into trouble during the ongoing ultimate Test of the World Test Championship 2023 final against Australia. They are currently almost on a backfoot as Australia have taken a big lead of 401 runs in the second innings. At the time of filling this copy, they have scored 228 runs for the loss of six wickets.

Meanwhile, a lot of experts have almost predicted a defeat for India considering the previous records of the fourth innings run chase at The Oval in London. With said that, Rohit Sharma’s men have to go beyond the lines and create history by chasing down a massive target in the fourth innings of the match.

Here's a look at the highest-ever successful run chase in the fourth innings at The Oval

The history books are giving almost a clear indication that India’s wait for an international tournament title wins might increase one more time. It is because the highest successful run chase achieved at The Oval is in the record books more than a century ago. It was the year 1902 in the very starting phase of the 20^th century.

The hosts England were given a target of 263 in the fourth innings of a Test match at The Oval which they successfully chased down in 66.5 overs with one wicket to spare. Eventually, England won this match in a thrilling manner by a very close margin of one wicket.

Speaking of that match, it was an amazing ton of 104 runs from Gilbert Jessop and unbeaten 58 runs from George Hirst to cross the finishing line in the favour of the Three Lions.

India to break all the bars of the history books to become the World Test Champions

Talking from the point of view of Team India, the highest total chased by them in the fourth innings in a Test match at The Oval was 52 years back in the year 1971. It was the time when the Indian team was touring England for a Test series. India was given a target of 173 runs by the hosts England.

Team India successfully chased down the target courtesy of a 45-run knock by skipper Ajit Wadekar alongside contributions of Dilip Sardesai (40), Gundappa Viswanath (33), and Farokh Engineer (28*).

Now, If India want to become the World Test Champions by winning the WTC 2023 Final against Australia, they would have to do the ‘impossible’ and chase down the target of more than 400 runs to break all the previous bars of history to register themselves for a long time in the history.