'It's going to be a real hard work if India don't do that' - Dinesh Karthik rings warning bell for Team India ahead of Day 2 of WTC final 

Steve Smith & Travis Head (left), Dinesh Karthik (right) (Source: Twitter)

Australia are 327/3 at stumps on Day 1 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final after a dismal performance by the Indian bowlers on Wednesday at The Oval. India had made a strong start to the game as they reduced the Aussies to 76/3 shortly after lunch. But since then, Australia has taken the lead thanks to Travis Head's (146*) century and Steve Smith's (95) impending 31st Test ton.

If India is to stage a comeback, Rohit Shamra and Co must dismiss both of the well-set batters at the start of Day 2; otherwise, with eight wickets left, Australia will aim for a massive total that will be impossible for India to catch up to. Ahead of the crucial day, India's veteran wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik also alerted Team India about the scenario.

Karthik, who is doing commentary for the WTC final, stated that India must grab early wickets on Day 2 and prevent Australia from crossing the 400-420 run mark. If India fail to do that, they will have to look for a draw, added the right-handed batter.

“If India need to come back in the game, make no mistake, there's only chance is if they pick 3 early wickets in first session. If they don't do that, we will be way behind. Immediately, we will start looking at draw as a win. Australia have a long batting lineup, if you don't get them before 400-420, it's going to be a real hard work,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.

Travis shifted the momentum: Steve Smith

Mohammed Siraj handed India an early lead by removing Usman Khawaja for a 10-ball duck. But David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne batted out brilliantly in a tense first hour and added a 60+ partnership for the second wicket before the former was dismissed for 43 off 60. Warner’s attacking game allowed Labuschagne to settle in the middle. But Mohammed Shami gave a breakthrough by removing Labuschagne shortly after the lunch.

It was Head's attacking play that put the Indian bowlers under pressure. The left-hander is still at the crease with a 250+ run partnership with Smith. “Travis shifted the momentum. (India) were perhaps a bit short in that middle session but Travis was putting pressure on them so it was a fine line," Smith told the BBC after Day 1.