#CWC23 : After Early Jolts, Virat Kohli , K L Rahul’s Superb Match-Winning Partnership Helps India Beat Australia By 6 Wickets

Picture : BCCI/ X

India began their 2023 World Cup campaign in style as they beat Australia by six wickets on hot and humid conditions in Chennai . In a low scoring spin friendly track , Australia Skipper Pat Cummins after winning the toss batted first

Aussies lost opener Mitchell Marsh early for 0 caught by Virat Kohli off Jasprit Bumrah . Then seasoned David Warner and Steve Smith rebuilt the innings with a good partnership of 69 runs . However both Warner ( 41 ) Steve Smith ( 46) could not convert their knock to a big one . Marnus Labuschagne scored ( 27 ) , Glenn Maxwell ( 15 , Cameron Green ( 8) and Alex Carey ( 0) . Ravindra Jadeja ripped through the Aussie middle – order getting – Steve Smith , Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey . Mitchell Starc ( 28) threw his bat around in the end as Australia eventually were bowled out for 199 in 49. 3 overs. Aussie batsmen did not rotate the strike and and this added pressure. From 110 for 2, Australia slumped to 119 for 5 and there was no looking back for Indian bowlers.

All Indian bowers took wickets – Jasprit Bumrah 2/ 35 ( 10 overs), Mohammed Siraj 1/ 26 ( 6.3 overs), Hardik Pandya 1/ 28 ( 3 overs), Ravichandran Ashwin 1/ 34 ( 10 overs), Kuldeep Yadav 2/ 42 ( 10 overs) Ravindra Jadeja outstanding 3/ 28 ( 10 overs) . Skipper Rohit Sharma rotated his bowlers well

Chasing 200 looked easy . But Australia had other plans . India were rocked early with three wickets falling with total 2/ 3 . Skipper Rohit Sharma leg  before to Josh Hazlewood for ( 0 ) , Ishan Kishan ( 0) fell caught Green Off Starc ,  Shreyas Iyer ( 0) caught by Warner Off Hazlewood. India innings were in tatters . A the crowd silenced .

But a calm and composed partnership between run chase master Virat Kohli and K L Rahul put India back on track . The duo hardly looked troubled in a superb match- winning partnership of 165 runs . They took the game away from Australia

Kohli was handed a lifeline with Mitchell Marsh dropping him on 12. And Australia were made to pay heavily . Kohli eventually striking a fine 85 ( 116 balls, 6 fours) but he fell when India were very close to win .

K L Rahul on the other hand was brilliant too and scored an unbeaten 97 ( 115 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) and fittingly finished  the match with a six along with Hardik Pandya not out 11. India reaching 201/ 4 in 41. 2 overs.

For Australia Josh Hazlewood was brilliant with figures of 3/ 38 ( 9 overs) , Mitchell Starc 1/ 31 ( 8 overs) , Pat Cummins 0/ 33 ( 6.2 overs), Cameron Green 0/ 11 ( 2 0vers) . The Aussie spin duo did not impress- – Glenn Maxwell 0/ 33 ( 6 overs) , Adam Zampa 0/ 53 ( 8 overs).  The spin is the Aussie weak link .

Match: World Cup 2023, 5th Match
Venue: Chennai | Date: October 08, 2023