A little before 12.10 pm on Monday afternoon, overcast and muggy, India’s cricketers made the 96-step walk down from their dressing room to the playing arena at the sprawling Narendra Modi stadium. As they huddled for a quick chat before the start of the second session of the final day, news filtered in from Christchurch that Kane Williamson had muscled New Zealand a thrilling last-ball victory over Sri Lanka.

WTC final berth

That result formalised India’s entry into the final of the World Test Championship, where they will take on Australia at The Oval in London from June 7. Virat Kohli celebrated the development by shaking the hand of each of his teammates and breaking into a little clap.