The bowlers did half the job by restricting Australia to just 199 runs. However, during the initial struggle, it seemed like everything might collapse in pursuit of this modest target. The scoreboard showed only two or three wickets lost, but the fear of losing was quite palpable. Virat Kohli and Lokesh Rahul rescued the team from this precarious situation and secured a magnificent victory through their unwavering determination.
India kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 6-wicket win over Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
Australia was dismissed for 199 runs with just three balls remaining in their innings, thanks to India’s disciplined bowling. Rohit Sharma’s team comfortably reached the target with 52 balls to spare, despite a shaky start in their run chase.
Rahul finished unbeaten with 97 runs in the run chase, while Kohli, who was dropped on 12 runs, played a superb innings, scoring 85 runs.
Sporting wickets are usually the norm in ICC tournaments, but on this particular day, Chennai’s pitch resembled a spin paradise. Right from the start, spinners enjoyed significant turn, and the innings featured inconsistent bounce and a sluggish pace.
All of India’s bowlers performed admirably on this supportive wicket, but the spinners played the pivotal role. Specifically, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav wreaked havoc on the opponent’s top and middle order, with Jadeja claiming 3 wickets and Kuldeep taking 2.
Australia found it challenging to recover from this setback.
Many among the home crowd may have expected their team to breeze through while chasing a modest target. However, the shock they witnessed at the beginning of the chase was beyond anyone’s imagination.
Typically, ICC tournaments are known for featuring sporting wickets, but on this particular day, the pitch in Chennai was a spin bowler’s dream. Right from the outset, spinners enjoyed significant turn, and the innings saw inconsistent bounce and a slower pace.
India’s entire bowling unit put up an impressive performance on this favorable pitch, but it was the spinners who played the most crucial role. In particular, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav wreaked havoc on Australia’s top and middle order, with Jadeja securing 3 wickets and Kuldeep taking 2.
Australia struggled to recover from this early setback.
Many among the home crowd may have anticipated an easy victory while chasing a modest target. However, the shock they witnessed at the start of the chase exceeded everyone’s expectations.
In this cricket match, Virat Kohli and Lokesh Rahul played key roles in India’s victory over Australia. Kohli reached his fifty after facing 75 balls and hitting three boundaries, while Rahul reached his fifty after 72 balls. Despite their slow starts, they led the team to victory with composure.
Kohli’s departure, caught at midwicket off Hazelwood, signaled India’s path to victory. He scored 85 runs with 6 fours from 116 balls in a 165-run partnership with Rahul.
Rahul, on the other hand, continued to guide the team to victory, partnering with Hardik Pandya. He hit a six off Cummins when India needed just four runs to win, securing the victory for his team.
However, despite the joy of the win, Rahul had a slight regret. He was only 9 runs away from a century when he needed to hit a six after a four to reach three figures. Instead, he unintentionally hit a six when trying for a boundary over extra cover, expressing his surprise.
Rahul scored 97 runs with 8 fours and 2 sixes from 115 balls, earning him the Man of the Match award.
In the earlier part of the match, Australia lost Mitchell Marsh early but built a solid partnership for the second wicket between David Warner and Steven Smith, scoring 69 runs together. Warner scored 41 runs off 52 balls before being dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav. Warner also set a World Cup record for the fastest 1000 runs in 19 innings.
However, Jadeja’s impressive bowling disrupted Australia’s plans, and Smith, Labuschagne, and Carey were all dismissed by him. Jadeja took 3 wickets for just 28 runs in 10 overs, while Kuldeep took 2 wickets for 42 runs. Australia managed to reach a total of 199, thanks in part to Mitchell Starc’s 28 runs.
In the end, India comfortably chased down the target, winning the match by 6 wickets.
