KL Rahul and Virat Kohli rescued India in their ODI World Cup 2023 opening encounter against Australia with a 165-run partnership in a run chase of 200 in tough Chennai conditions. Given the responsibility to bat in the middle over, Rahul had to hurry to the crease after India lost three wickets in just 1.5 overs for just two runs. Rahul in a conversation with Kohli said that he did not expect India to lose three wickets that quickly.
"I never expected it. You do lose a couple of quick wickets when the bowler is doing something, but not like that. It takes four-five overs; doesn't happen in 1.5 overs," Rahul told Kohli in a BCCI video.
"I had a shower and just came out and sat, and then Ishan (Kishan) got out. I had to rush back in, get taped and wear my pads before Rohit (Sharma) got out."
“I thought I would get at least two overs; Shreyas (Iyer) will bat a little bit. But he got out, I don't even know when, as I was busy padding up, and then, I rushed out.”
Kohli asked about the plan he had when India had their back against the wall against Australian seamers.
"My game plan was to play the first ten overs like I play Test cricket. I do open the batting (in Tests), and we have played in situations where the ball does a bit," the wicketkeeper-batter said.
"I just told myself that I will probably be a little bit conservative, just try to kill the momentum that Australia had. They were on a high."
"You (Kohli) were content with knocking it around, but you always kept showing that intent. If they pitch it up or get off the radar, you will punish them. I think they could sense that as well, and we got a couple of boundaries that way."
While Rahul remained unbeaten, Kohli scored 85 runs after his catch was dropped by Mitchell Marsh. After a nervy start, Kohli took his time and played out the new ball before accelerating in the middle overs.
"It really helped both of us play in a more conventional way. Those tough situations obviously helped us to eradicate the errors and keep rotating the strike as well," Kohli highlighted how he tackled a tough situation.
"The highlight of our partnership was, obviously because of the low total, how content we were to knock the ball around. (We were) not necessarily looking at the number of balls we had played or the amount of runs we had got."
"Just fighting through the physical challenges of what we had experienced in the (Sunday) afternoon, coming into the evening, then the pressure obviously makes you feel even more tense, and you start getting more fatigued than you are."
"The team obviously feels great after a win like that. Hopefully, we can build on this and go a long way in this tournament."
Rohit Sharma-led India will now take on Afghanistan in their second game of the tournament at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi which is Kohli’s homeground. The 34-year-old who broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most runs in ODI run chases said it is a special feeling to play a World Cup match in Delhi. However, he feels awkward to be playing on a ground where a stand is named after him.
"Of course, for me, that's the stadium where I have grown up playing my cricket - Age-group cricket, Ranji Trophy and then played for India as well."
"The memory is always fresh in your mind. When you go back into those moments, you still feel it because that is where everything started. That is where the selectors saw you for the first time, and you got an opportunity.
"So, it's always special to go back and play at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. We used to practice at the B grounds, and the Ranji teams practised on the main ground. So, very special place, very special memories."
"It's a bit awkward for me to still be playing, and in front of a pavilion named after me. Honestly, I don't like to talk about it a lot, but it's a great honour that I never felt would happen in my career, and I just feel grateful when I go back and see all the things that are present now and from where I started," he further added.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
