India vs New Zealand LIVE Score WTC Final, Day 6 updates: Kohli, Pujara resuming batting against Southee, Jamieson

IND 71/2 in 35 overs: Pujara's soft forward press against Southee has Williamson bring in a silly mid-on to negate the shot down the wicket. Pujara continues to open his blade a tad to the off-side and continues to defend the fuller balls from Southee.

IND 71/2 in 34 overs: Beauty from Jamieson! Jamieson tests Kohli with a couple of straight deliveries attacking the stumps. The big man quickly pushes the ball outside Kohli's off-stump and gets him to play at it off successive balls. The ball sneaks straight through twice and Jamieson has a whiff at the big wicket.

IND 70/2 in 33 overs: Southee tries to toss it up in an attempt to find swing but fails. Kohli takes advantage and opens the face of the bat against Southee to fetch two runs.

IND 68/2 in 32 overs: Jamieson is switched on rightaway! Pujara is peppered with the nip-backer throughout the over. The ball, however, does not do much to surprise Pujara who has marked a fresh guard outside the crease and pushes the ball forward with soft hands.

Kyle Jamieson is on from the other end

IND 68/2 in 31 overs: Kohli begins with a trademark flick to the on-side. Pujara matches up to Kohli's pace and sneaks in three runs. Kohli gets a warning from umpire Michael Gough for running through the danger end. Southee is pushing it upfront but there's no large swing to accompany him to start the morning.

The menacing Tim Southee up with the ball!

Here we go, folks! Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara walk out to resume the innings, followed by the ice-cool Williamson and his boys.

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2:49pm IST: Indian batsmen in 2nd innings in England since 2011:

2:25pm IST: PITCH REPORT: Sunil Gavaskar says the surface holds up pretty well. A hint of grass would make it tricky for the batsmen in the first hour, but should be a "batting paradise" beyond the first hour.

2:13pm IST: Greatest test for VK as skipper today? What do you reckon, folks?

2:02pm IST: Live visuals from Southampton! Virat Kohli walks across a fresh Ageas Bowl outfield for a batting session. There's some sparkling sunshine for company, a first in the six days we have had here. 

1:53pm IST: All that matters is, now!

1:25pm IST: It's a sunny morning in Southampton! 98 overs definitely on the cards as we mark a rare sixth day, a first in Tests between two nations since 1979! 

1:15pm IST: Nearly 90 minutes away from action, Kohli and Pujara have a thrilling test up ahead. A win still out of the horizon for India as quick runs will be the mantra to mark it the solitary champion. Should Kohli and Pujara get on top of the Kiwi bowlers, the tables are going for a spin at Ageas Bowl.

12:45pm IST: There, Jimmy gets it right about what's in store for us today!

Day 6 Preview

An auspicious day indeed for Indian fans, for it's been eight years to the day since their team last lifted an ICC trophy. The Champions Trophy triumph at Edgbaston in 2013, remains the soothing checkpoint to which the country falls back into for solace after failing to cross two ICC finals and three semi-finals in the years that followed.

A jubilant 25-year-old Virat Kohli was at the heart of the celebrations that followed the win then. Today, he is once again at the crux of a historic day in the purists' game on the final day of the inaugural World Test Championship.

With rain lifting away two whole days of the game and frustrating the cricketing world, the final is very much in the balance with all three outcomes possible in a 98-over cut-off.

READ: WTC final, Southampton, 5th day: New Zealand holds advantage despite Shami's 4 for 76

Williamson's men managed to get things just about right by a slender margin on Day 5 as it leapt to a 32-run lead with lusty blows from the lower-order accompanying an ice-cool innings from the skipper. Mohammed Shami's guile and pace kept the runs in check as India set out to see off a tense final session.

With Rohit and Gill falling to Southee's adept in-swinger, India was once again on the back-foot. Kohli and Pujara resume action with a 32-run lead and the spotlight will be on their approach in the first hour.

98 overs will present a test of character, perhaps at par or greater than the Australian challenge earlier this year. The mindset of their captain will decipher a win or a battle for a draw today as the Kiwis eye a moment of history to smash the underdog title and etching their name as a cricketing powerhouse for the years to come.

Chances of rain - Wednesday, Southampton - According to UK Met department

Sportstar correspondents Shayan Acharya, Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya and Ayan Acharya discuss their star players and big match-ups in the #WTCFinal.

WHAT THEY SAID

Squads:

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand Playing XI: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult