Shardul Thakur was playing as a fast-bowling all-rounder the World Test Championship (WTC) final and he lived up to his billing.
He took two crucial wickets and removed David Warner and Steve Smith in the first innings. Thakur then made an even important contribution with the bat.
He walked out with India wanting at 152/6 and scored a crucial 109-ball-51. His century-run stand helped the sub-continental giants avoid the follow-on as well.
In the process, Thakur also equalled a long-standing record by Sir Don Bradman. It was his 3rd-straight half-century at the Oval, which is now the joint-most consecutive 50 plus scores by a visiting player at this venue along with Bradman and Allan Border.