In a riveting match at Chennai’s M A Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, India clinched a decisive 6-wicket victory against the five-time champions Australia during their opening bout in the ICC Men’s World Cup.
Initially, it seemed India would have an easy chase after their spin-heavy bowling lineup dismissed Australia for a modest total of 199, wrapping up their innings prematurely. However, India’s batting start was unexpectedly shaky, with three of the top four being dismissed without scoring within the first two overs.
Turning the Tables
But the tide turned when Virat Kohli, given a reprieve early on by Mitchell Marsh, crafted an impeccable 85-run inning. He was supported ably by KL Rahul, who remained unbeaten with a score of 97. Together, they stitched a formidable 165-run partnership for the fourth wicket, ensuring India reached the target in just 41.2 overs.
For Australia, their batting lineup failed to deliver any standout performances. David Warner and Steve Smith, who scored 41 and 46, respectively, failed to capitalize on their starts and convert them into bigger scores.
Team Line-up
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Australia: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
