CHENNAI: Virat Kohli and KL Rahul scored anchoring half-centuries after a disciplined performance by the bowlers as India edged Australia by six wickets in their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign opener on Sunday.
Set to chase a modest 200, India knocked off the winning runs for the loss of four wickets and 52 balls to spare.
The hosts, however, had a dismal start to their pursuit as they lost three batters with just two runs on the board as Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer all fell for duck.
Following the slump, KL Rahul joined Virat Kohli in the middle and the duo launched an astounding recovery.
Kohli and Rahul soaked in the pressure and put India in command with a magnificent 165-run partnership which lasted when Kohli fired his pull shot straight to Marnus Labuschagne at mid-wicket in the 38th over.
Star batter Virat Kohli fell short of his well-deserved century as he scored 85. His 116-ball knock featured six boundaries.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul held his ground firm and carried his bat all the way through to guide India to a hard-fought victory to launch their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign with a victory.
He also fell just shy of his century, scoring an unbeaten 97 in 115 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries and two sixes.
Josh Hazlewood led the bowling attack for Australia with 3/38 in his nine overs while Mitchell Starck had a wicket to his name.
After opting to bat first, Australia lost their first wicket in the third over as Mitchell Marsh fell with only five runs on the board.
David Warner and Steve Smith then stabilised the innings with a partnership of 69, before Kuldeep Yadav grabbed a returning catch to send the former back to the pavilion.
Warner scored 47 off 52 with the help of six boundaries, becoming the fastest man to score 1000 World Cup runs in 19 innings.
Steve Smith followed him after anchoring through the innings with his 46 from 71 deliveries, featuring five boundaries before Ravindra Jadeja knocked his off-stump when Australia had 110 runs on the board.
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Indian spinners took charge from there and rattled the Australian batting line, reducing them to 140-7 in the 37th over.
Mitchell Starc showed some resistance with two brief partnerships of 25 and 24 runs with Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa respectively.
Indian pacers then returned to the attack and picked the final three wickets to wrap Australian innings at 199.
Starc scored a gutsy knock of 28 runs from 35 balls with the help of two boundaries and one six.
Ravindra Jadeja topped the bowling charts with his aforementioned bowling figures, while Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah picked two wickets each.
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