India's Unforgettable 2023 ODI WC: India began their historic and record-breaking ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign on October 8, 2023, by taking on the mighty Australians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India were coming off a historic Asia Cup campaign, where they decimated the likes of Pakistan and Sri Lanka with ease, and last played a three-match ODI series vs Australia at home before their first World Cup match.
Australia, on the other hand, were coming into the tournament as 'not a definite favourite' due to their long list of injury and fitness issues, alongside the form of their players as well. Also, their momentum was completely shaken off after their T20I series whitewash of South Africa, as despite of leading the ODI series 2-0, the Proteas produced one of the iconic comebacks ever to seal the series 3-2.
India, then, handed the Aussies two defeats, thereby, handing the visitors their fifth consecutive ODI defeat. The streak came to an end in the 3rd and final ODI but Australia had now already lost their last two ODI series.
India Vs Australia, ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 Match 5 | As It Happened
Both sides were playing their first match of the campaign and were under new captains, as Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins took charge of their first-ever World Cup match as skipper.
The nature of the pitch at Chepauk was bowling-friendly and chase was extremely tough, therefore, upon winning the coin toss, Australia elected to bat first.
The Indian bowlers were on-song as ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Mitchell Marsh for a duck, but the Aussies recovered from their early setback, as David Warner and Steven Smith formed a formidable partnership of 69 before the former's dismissal, which then, eventually, announced the collapse of their batting order.
No other Aussie batter managed to reach the 30-run mark, as what once looked a 275+ total for them concluded for a modest 199, thanks to exceptional bowling from the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
The home crowd were shell-shocked and left stunned as Josh Hazlewood ran through the top order of the Indian side as merely after two overs, the hosts were three down for 2 runs.
Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer did not add even a single run on the scorecard as all three of them departed for a duck and were almost joined by Virat Kohli back in the dugout, but Mitchell Marsh dropped a sitter on the socre of 20/3, and 'King Kohli' was given a lifeline.
Him and KL Rahul never looked back ever since, as their brilliant partnership of 165 sealed the deal for India. Virat Kohli's innings ended on the score of 85, but KL Rahul managed to remain unbeaten on 97 and finished the match with a thumping six to seal a 6-wicket win.