The country's cricket fans were on a knife-edge during India's opening match of the ODI World Cup against Australia, as batting stalwarts KL Rahul and Virat Kohli rescued a memorable win from the clutches of the five-time champions at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, October 8.
The top-order had been rattled by pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, and India were strangled at 2/3 when Kohli and Rahul took the field. This came after India's chase began disastrously, with the score reading 2 for 3. Captain Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer were sent back to the pavilion for ducks, thanks to the lethal combination of Starc and Hazlewood.
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Virat Kohli and the moment India almost lost the match
Before what turned out to be an excellent comeback, there was a heart-in-the-mouth moment for Kohli, Rahul and everyone in the stadium, when the former India skipper top-edged a Josh Hazlewood ball destined to be the pacer's third of the night. But the night had other plans.
Mitchell Marsh, sprinting towards the square leg, missed the catch with wicketkeeper Alex Carey nearby, readying himself for the same ball. Marsh's disappointment was evident, as Australia faced the wrath of not dismissing Kohli. Kohli capitalised on the moment and scored an additional 73 runs, culminating in a remarkable 85 off 117 deliveries.
Ravichandran Ashwin, in a chat with Star Sports, shared his anxiety during that moment: "When I saw Virat Kohli's ball go up in the air, I sprinted out of the dressing room. It felt surreal. I thought, 'just wake me up when it's over.' Facing Australia is always intense. After restricting them to 199, you'd think it's a straightforward chase. But seeing Kohli's potential dismissal was nerve-wracking. When the stadium roared, I rushed back inside. I remained stationary throughout the innings, to the point my feet hurt," he expressed.
Kohli and Rahul's partnership of 165 runs was the game-changer, leading India to a comfortable 6-wicket win. While Kohli departed after scoring 85, Rahul remained undefeated at 97, sealing the victory with ample balls to spare.
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