Introduction
The two biggest cricketing rivals, India and Australia, clashed in the fifth match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on October 8, 2023. India won the toss and elected to bowl first. Australia got off to a good start, but the Indian bowlers made a comeback to restrict them to 199/10 in 49.3 overs. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the Indian bowlers with three wickets.
India chased down the target with ease, thanks to a brilliant partnership between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Kohli scored 85 runs off 116 balls, while Rahul remained unbeaten on 97 runs off 115 balls. The duo put on a 165-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which sealed the win for India.
India vs Australia Cricket Match :
Australian Batting
Australia started their innings cautiously, with openers David Warner and Aaron Finch adding 50 runs for the first wicket. However, Warner was dismissed by Mohammed Shami for 28. Finch followed soon after, falling to Jasprit Bumrah for 31.
Australia were in a spot of bother at 76/2, but Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith steadied the ship. The duo added 87 runs for the third wicket, before Smith was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja for 46.
Labuschagne was dismissed by Jadeja for 27. Australia lost their remaining wickets in quick succession, as they were bowled out for 199 in 49.3 overs.
India’s batting collapse
India’s batting chase started off disastrously, as they lost three wickets for just two runs. Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer were all dismissed without scoring.
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul came together at the crease to rescue India. The duo started slowly, but they gradually picked up the pace. They added 50 runs for the fourth wicket before Kohli was dismissed by Pat Cummins for 85.
Rahul continued to bat positively, and he was joined by Hardik Pandya. The duo added the remaining runs to win the match.
Rahul remained unbeaten on 97 runs, as India chased down the target with ease.
Kohli and Rahul’s masterclass
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were the stars of the show with their brilliant batting performances. Kohli, who has been struggling for form in recent years, returned to form with a brilliant 85 runs. This was Kohli’s first half-century in ODIs since December 2022.
Rahul, on the other hand, has been in consistent form in recent months. Rahul’s unbeaten 97 runs is his highest score in ODIs. Rahul is now the leading run-scorer for India in the World Cup, with 194 runs from two matches.
Conclusion
India got off to a perfect start in their World Cup campaign with a resounding victory over Australia. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were the stars of the show with their brilliant batting performances. India will now take on England in their next match on October 11, while Australia will face South Africa on October 12.
Why India won
There are a few reasons why India won the match.
- Virat Kohli’s return to form: Virat Kohli has been one of the best batsmen in the world for over a decade, but he has been struggling for form in recent years. However, he returned to form with a brilliant 85 runs in the match against Australia. This was Kohli’s first half-century in ODIs since December 2022, and it will be a huge boost for India’s World Cup campaign.
- KL Rahul’s consistency: KL Rahul has been in consistent form in recent months. He scored a century against England in the warm-up match, and he followed it up with an unbeaten 97 against Australia. Rahul is now the leading run-scorer for India in the World Cup, with 194 runs from two matches.
- India’s bowling attack: India’s bowling attack is one of the best in the world. They have a good mix of pace and spin, and they are all very experienced. Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja were the pick of the bowlers in the match against Australia.
What Australia need to do to improve
Australia need to improve in a few areas if they want to win the World Cup.
- Their batting needs to be more consistent. In the match against India, they lost three early wickets, and they were unable to recover from that. They need to find a way to start their innings better, and they need to be more consistent in converting their starts into big scores.
- Their bowling needs to be more disciplined. In the match against India, they bowled too many short balls, and they were punished for that. They need to be more disciplined with their bowling, and they need to hit the right areas more consistently.
- They need to find a way to get Virat Kohli out. Kohli is one of the best batsmen in the world, and he is always a threat to Australia. They need to find a way to get him out early in the innings, or they will always be in danger of losing.
In addition to these specific areas, Australia also need to improve their overall game awareness and decision-making. They made a few mistakes in the match against India, such as bowling too many short balls, and they need to avoid making those mistakes in the future.