In a thrilling encounter, India emerged victorious against their arch-rivals, Australia, in their opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The win came in the 42nd over as India successfully chased down a target of 200 runs with six wickets remaining.
IND VS AUS : KL Rahul and Virat Kohli Shine
KL Rahul, batting brilliantly and remaining unbeaten at 97, and Virat Kohli, who contributed 85 runs, played pivotal roles in India’s successful run-chase. Together, they stitched a remarkable partnership of 165 runs. This partnership was all the more crucial as India had a shaky start with Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer all departing without scoring any runs.
IND VS AUS: Australia’s Batting Struggles
Earlier in the match, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first in challenging conditions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India’s bowlers put up a stellar performance, making life difficult for the Australian batsmen from the outset.
IND VS AUS: Indian bowling attack
While David Warner and Steve Smith made notable contributions with scores of 41 and 46, respectively, no other Australian batsman could settle on the Chepauk pitch. The Indian bowling attack, featuring talents like Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Hardik Pandya, and Mohammed Siraj, posed a formidable challenge.
India’s Depth and Strength
Prior to the match, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma expressed confidence in the team’s ability to face any challenge. India had recently clinched victory in the Asia Cup 2023, showcasing their highly motivated squad. The Indian team, currently ranked number 1 in ODIs, displayed its completeness despite two washed-out World Cup warm-up matches. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at the helm of their batting lineup and a formidable array of spinners, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, India presented a well-rounded side.
Australia’s Strategy
Australia, led by captain Pat Cummins, aimed to maintain their ODI World Cup dominance. Although their first warm-up game was affected by rain, they secured a victory against Pakistan in a high-scoring contest. In their match against India, the Australian team depended on leg-spinner Adam Zampa, supported by Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. The pace bowling department featured the trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.
Match Highlights
Here are some key highlights from the match:
- Pat Cummins won the toss for Australia and elected to bat first at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.
- India opted for a three-pronged spin attack with Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, with Ashwin playing at his home ground in a World Cup match for the first time.
- Ishan Kishan replaced the unwell Shubman Gill in India’s playing XI and opened the batting alongside captain Rohit Sharma.
- Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck in the third over, reducing Australia to 5/1.
- Kuldeep Yadav bowled a classic wristspin delivery to send David Warner (41) back to the pavilion in the 17th over with Australia at 74 runs.
- Ravindra Jadeja accounted for the wicket of set batsman Steve Smith (46) in the 28th over.
- Jadeja continued his impressive spell by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey in consecutive overs, securing three wickets for India.
- Kuldeep Yadav removed Glenn Maxwell (15) as he lost his leg stump in the 35.5th over.
- Ravichandran Ashwin joined the wicket-taking spree by dismissing Cameron Green in the 37th over, caught by Hardik Pandya.
- Jasprit Bumrah entered the attack and dismissed Pat Cummins in the 43rd over.
- Hardik Pandya claimed the wicket of Adam Zampa in the 49th over, while Mohammed Siraj ended the Australian innings by taking the wicket of Mitchell Starc.
- Australia concluded their innings with a total of 199 runs, setting India a target of 200 runs at a run rate of 4 per over.
- India faced a tense start, losing the top three batsmen—Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer—for zero runs. They were 18/3 after 6 overs, with KL Rahul and Virat Kohli at the crease.
- At the end of the first powerplay, India was 27/3, with Australia dominating the early phase of the match.
- The partnership between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul tilted the game in India’s favor. After 20 overs, India reached 80/3.
- Kohli and Rahul formed a vital partnership, with India reaching 120/3 at the end of 30 overs. Both batsmen notched up half-centuries.
- Virat Kohli was eventually dismissed for 85 runs, with Josh Hazlewood taking his wicket. Notably, Kohli was dropped on 12 runs, off Hazlewood’s delivery, by Mitchell Marsh.
- Hardik Pandya, coming in at number 6, aimed to finish the game quickly. After only a brief time at the crease, he began swinging his bat and struck a six, the first of India’s innings, against a quicker delivery from Josh Hazlewood.
- India reached 182/4 in 40 overs, needing just 18 runs to win as the final powerplay commenced.
- India successfully chased down the target in the 42nd over with six wickets in hand. KL Rahul remained unbeaten at 97 off 115 balls, sealing the victory with a six.
With this win, India occupies the 5th spot in the points table, sharing 2 points each with New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, albeit with a comparatively lower run rate.