Ravindra Jadeja and Kohli-Rahul Duo Shine as India Crushes Australia in ODI World Cup
Chennai has often been a witness to unforgettable moments between India and Australia, and this time was no different. Ravindra Jadeja produced a remarkable performance against Australia in the opening match of the ODI World Cup at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
The Australians, who typically relish the challenge, faced a nightmarish start to their campaign, getting bowled out for a meager 199 runs. To add insult to injury, they then had to endure the class batting display of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, who steered India to victory despite some initial hiccups.
Australia, a team regarded as one of the top contenders for the Cricket World Cup, displayed an uncharacteristically lackluster performance. Meanwhile, India showcased how to execute a clinical chase on a slow surface after being pushed onto the back foot earlier in the game. India’s top-order, including Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer, all departed without contributing a single run.
Gilchrist: Australia to Beat India at the World Cup final
An interesting trivia note from ESPNcricinfo highlighted that whenever Australia has lost a World Cup match to India, they haven’t gone on to win the tournament. This could be considered an auspicious sign for the home side.
Australia’s Batting Woes
The downward spiral for Australia began early in the match when Mitchell Marsh sent one straight to Virat Kohli stationed at slip in just the second over. For a brief period, Steve Smith and David Warner showed promise with the bat, but they failed to rotate the strike effectively. Once Warner was dismissed, Australia succumbed to the mounting pressure, losing their way against the Indian spinners and struggling to trust their game plan.
The trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Kuldeep Yadav bowled brilliantly, with Jadeja, in particular, extracting vicious turn off the pitch. The Australian batsmen found themselves in a quandary, reacting nervously under pressure, which led to a flurry of wickets.
What was once 109/2 quickly turned into a dire situation at 140/7. Only a few gritty performances enabled Australia to post 199 on the scoreboard, a total that might have been even more competitive if Mitch Marsh hadn’t dropped Virat Kohli on 12, who later went on to score a pivotal 85 runs.
India’s Clinical Chase
A target of 199 suddenly appeared daunting when India lost three wickets for just two runs. The Australian pacers exerted significant control in the initial overs, but the cautious and positive efforts of Kohli and Rahul provided India with a glimmer of hope during this challenging period. Once these two got settled, they extinguished all Australian hopes with a record-breaking 165-run partnership, the highest by an Indian pair against Australia in a World Cup match.
What set this partnership apart was the poise displayed by Kohli and Rahul. They denied Australia any chance to claw their way back into the game. The required run-rate was never a concern, so they bided their time and stitched together a match-winning partnership. In the 42nd over, Rahul punctuated their dominance by smashing a beautiful six over extra cover off Pat Cummins to seal India’s first victory in the Cricket World Cup 2023.
In the end, it was Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliance with the ball and the resilient partnership between Kohli and Rahul that defined India’s comprehensive triumph over Australia. This victory not only boosted India’s morale but also left Australia with plenty to ponder as they embarked on their ODI World Cup journey.
