Virat Kohli and KL Rahul’s gritty knocks in tough conditions under pressure led India to a six-wicket win over five-time ODI World Champion Australia in their World Cup 2023 campaign opener on October 8. After a clinical bowling display helped India bowl out Australia for 199, India lost three early wickets but Rahul and Kohli soaked the pressure and won the game with plenty of overs to spare.
Earlier, Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat first. Jasprit Bumrah drew first blood with the wicket of Mitchell Marsh in the third over for a duck. David Warner and Steve Smith struggled in the Chennai weather but kept Indian pacers at bay. In the 17th over, Kuldeep got the breakthrough with the wicket of Warner. The opener handed an easy catch to Kuldeep. He scored 41 runs from 52 balls including six fours.
Marnus Labuschagne and Smith tried to stitch a partnership but they were not allowed to score freely. Ravindra Jadeja got Smith's wicket with a jaffa of a delivery that clipped the off stump. Smith missed his half-century as he departed for a 71-ball 46. In the next over, Jadeja struck twice. Labuschagne went for the sweep shot but the edge landed in Rahul's gloves. Alex Carey became his third victim as he got out for a two-ball duck.
Glenn Maxwell became Kuldeep's second victim as he got bowled by a delivery that knocked over the leg stump. In the next over, Cameron Green threw his wicket away and became Ravichandran Ashwin's only scalp of the day. Cummins hit a few shots but Bumrah returned in the slog overs to get his wicket. Mitchell Starc’s crucial 28-run knock took Australia’s score to 199 before they got bowled in the final over.
In the run chase, India were pushed on the back foot after Starc dismissed Ishan Kishan for a duck in the first over. Next over, Josh Hazlewood struck twice to dismiss Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer as India lost three wickets for just two runs. Kohli struggled against Australian pacers with the new ball. He escaped outside edge on several occasions. In the eighth over, he was dropped by Marsh off Hazlewood’s bowling. The dropped catch changed the game as Kohli and Rahul played out the new ball.
Rahul put pressure on Adam Zampa as soon as he was introduced with three fours in an over. Rahul reached his half-century from 75 balls in the 26th over. Rahul did it from 72 deliveries in the 28th over. The duo played Australia out of the game. In the 38th over, Kohli went for the pull shot and lost his wicket. He missed his maiden World Cup century while chasing. He scored 85 runs from 116 balls including six fours.
However, it turned out to be a consolation wicket. Kohli and Rahul shared a 165-run partnership, the highest for India against Australia in the World Cup. Rahul missed his century by just three runs. He finished the game with a six in the 42nd over. He scored 97 runs from 115 balls including eight fours and two sixes. India won the game by six wickets with 52 balls to spare.
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