Most Awaited Fight of Cricket Giants in World Cup 2023
India vs Australia
08th October 2023; Chepauk Stadium, Chennai
It was a good toss to loose for India. Indian think tank had to plan batting after winning the toss. But eventually they lost the toss and Australia after winning the toss elected to bat.
It was a very hot & humid day.
Mitchell Marsh was first to go on 3, when Australia lost their first wicket on 5 and bowler was Jaspreet Bumrah. This was a very good start for India. After that 69 runs partnership came between David Warner and Steven Smith. Captain Rohit Sharma handed over the ball to Kuldeep Yadav and he proved himself by sending Warner back to pavilion at total score of 74. Now, it was turn of Sir Jadeja, who sent Steven Smith and Labuschagne back to pavilion in the same over at score of 119/5. Just after 21 runs again two batsmen sent back to pavilion. This time batsmen were Glenn Maxwell & Cameron Green and bowlers were Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Ashwin. Now score was 140/7. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins tried to fight back, but it was too late and last three wickets were shared by Jaspreet Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Mohd Siraz. Finally Australian innings came to an end at 199 in 49.3 overs.
Fielding and bowling of Indian team was exceptionally good. K L Rahul did brilliant job behind the wickets.
Bowers have done their job, now its turn of Batsmen to prove themselves and score required 200 runs. In absence of Shubhman Gill, Ishan Kishan is opening with skipper Rohit Sharma.
Mitchell Starc gave first breakthrough to his team by sending Ishan Kishan back to pavilion for a duck in his very first over. The bad luck not ended here, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer both also went on duck, when score of India was 2/3.
Virat Kohali and K L Rahul started to build the inning. Kohali was lucky enough to survive at 12, when he was dropped by Mithell Marsh off Hazelwood, which was an easy one. After that both were started scoring runs mostly in singles.
Kohali has scored brilliant and most useful 85 runs off 116 balls before leaving the ground when score was 167/4in 37.4 overs. It was definitely a brilliant inning and wonderful partnership of 165 runs with K L Rahul. It was go good show and fight of cricket giants at Chepauk, this match will be remembered for very long time.
Hardik Pandya joined K L Rahul when India required 33 runs to win this battle. India convincingly won the match by 6 wickets, in 41.2 overs. KL Rahul was not out on 97 & Hardik Pandya on 11.