India vs Australia: ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – as it happened
All the updates as hosts India beat Australia by six wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Australia on October 8, 2023:
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Australia on October 8, 2023:
- India beat Australia by six wickets as the rivals opened their Cricket World Cup campaigns in Chennai.
- Ravindra Jadeja led India’s spin charge with figures of 3-28 to bowl out Australia for 199 while Virat Kohli and KL Rahul steered the hosts to a recovery from 2-3 in their reply.
- India have suffered a world title drought since the 2013 Champions Trophy and last won the World Cup on home soil in 2011.
- Australia are the most successful ODI team, having won the 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015 competitions.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
That’s all folks!
So that brings an end to our coverage.
Thanks for joining us, and we hope you enjoyed the coverage.
Another tasty-looking encounter on Monday as New Zealand face the Netherlands in Hyderabad. The Dutch made their way into the tournament at the expense of the West Indies, Ireland and Zimbabwe via the qualifiers hosted by the latter.
The Kiwis, of course, looking to go two from two after handing out some revenge to England after their defeat in the 2019 final.
Join our coverage again soon.
From Shubi Arun, Patrick Keddie and myself, Kevin Hand, it’s goodbye for now.
On to New Delhi for the favourites
After a statement win against Australia, India now face Afghanistan in New Delhi on Wednesday.
It was a trouncing for Afghanistan against Bangladesh on Saturday, so they face a tall order to avoid consecutive defeats to start the tournament.
Australia have one more day to rest and recover from the Indian hiding before they face a huge task against South Africa in Lucknow on Thursday.
Aiden Markram recorded the fastest World Cup 100 as South Africa hit 425-5 in a 102-run victory against Sri Lanka.
That was the highest score for the Proteas in the tournament’s history.
With Australia’s opening defeat, that promises to be a mouthwatering clash as the Aussies will be desperate to get a win on the board.
‘Hats off to Virat and KL’: Rohit Sharma
India captain Rohit Sharma on starting with a win: “Pretty exciting. A good feeling to come out on top. It was a good game for us. To start the tournament in the way we did was quite pleasing to see.
“Our bowlers used the conditions perfectly. We knew that there will be some assistance for everyone. We saw the seamers getting some kind of rewards as well. The spinners bowled in nice areas and kept challenging the batters.
“You don’t want to start your innings like that when you’re chasing that kind of target, but credit to the Aussies. They bowled well.
“Some loose shots there as well but that happens when you are chasing that kind of target. You want to get off the mark as quickly as possible and score as many as possible in the power play.
“Hats off to Virat and KL and how they stuck in the middle out there and created that match-winning partnership for us.”
Cummins rues Kohli drop
Australia captain Pat Cummins was left to rue the drop of Kohli early in the chase: “Not ideal – especially someone of his calibre. Four down would have been the ideal start but not to be.”
He was equally disappointed with the performance with the bat: “It’s going to be tough defending around 200 on any wicket.
“Their spinners in particular were tough work out there so it was one of those wickets you have to get yourself in on.
“We had them three down for two runs with our quick bowlers, and if you put another fifty on the board that bowling performance looks a bit different.
“It’s only one game out of nine but there are areas we need to get better.”
Friends reunited – Kohli and Rahul embrace at the end
A match-winning partnership followed by a warm hug 🤗
Well played, KL Rahul & Virat Kohli 👏#CWC23 | #INDvAUS | #TeamIndia | #MeninBlue pic.twitter.com/aVdbkVHekz
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 8, 2023
KL Rahul – Player of the Match
No surprise who the Player of the Match is: KL Rahul.
So what was the chat with Virat Kohli when he arrived in the middle at 2-3: “There was not a lot of conversation. I was just trying to catch my breath.
“I had just had a shower and thought I would get a good half an hour or an hour to put my feet up and just rest up but I was out there in no time. So it was a bit of a rush.
“Virat said there’s a bit of help in the wicket so you just have to play proper shots and play like it is Test cricket and see where it goes so that was mostly the plan.
“It remained the same for most of the game. There was a bit of help for the fast bowlers even when we bowled and when the spinners came on there was a bit in the wicket but in the last 15 or 20 overs, the dew played a little bit of a part for them. And when they changed the ball it came on a little better.
“It wasn’t a great wicket to bat on nor was it too flat. I think it was a good wicket and that’s what you get in the south of India.
“I was calculating how I could get to a hundred in the end – the only way was to hit a four and then a six and that’s what I planned but I hit it too well.”
Three ducks and two heroes
After keeping Australia below 200 that game should always have been India’s.
Three ducks at the start of the innings gave the Aussies hope.
Once Kohli was dropped on 12 that hope was extinguished by as good a partnership as there could be.
Australia had no answer to the fourth wicket pairing and that will be a huge concern for them.
India have sent a clear message to all their challengers in their opening game.
Did Rahul hit that too well?
Rahul finishes unbeaten on 97 and appeared in some shock when that last ball went for six.
Was he just looking to chip four off that one to leave him with a chance of going for the century with a six thereafter?
It looks as though that was exactly what was in his mind.
He was trying to go inside out with the field up in the circle but the timing was too good.
A chanceless innings from Rahul and fitting that he hit the winning runs even if he missed out on the hundred.
India win by six wickets!
And what a way to win it!
Cummins comes on to deliver his final over and KL Rahul smashes a six over extra cover.
India hammer Australia in Chennai.
41 overs. India 195-4
Not to be upstaged, KL Rahul is on the act.
First ball of Maxwell’s over goes back over the bowler’s head for six.
The second goes in the same direction for four on this occasion.
A single third ball takes Rahul to 90.
Two more singles follow before the over is out and Rahul will have strike on 91 with five needed to win.
40 overs. India 182-4
Net run-rate is the only talk at the end of this innings now.
Do India look to charge or do they just see this home?
There are enough runs left for KL Rahul’s century if he does decide to launch.
The crowd would certainly love it, having been quietened by the departure of Kohli.
And the answer comes before the over is out. Hardik slams the penultimate Hazlewood delivery over long-off with a huge six – only the second of the innings.
39 overs. India 171-4
India calm things down again after the fall of Kohli.
The surge towards the finish line is probably done with a new batter at the crease.
Four singles take off Maxwell’s over.
38 overs. India 168-4
Hardik Pandya replaces Kohli in the middle, and Hazlewood goes straight back to the bouncer.
The right-hander resists the temptation to go hard at a hook and instead steers a single to the leg side.
A disappointed Kohli is on screen before the over is out. He’s probably the only person disappointed with that dismissal.
India will be breathing a huge sigh of relief after a disastrous start.
Australia’s disappointment will be with the failure to dismiss Kohli on 12 when Marsh made a mess of the catch that was offered.
India 167-4. Kohli is out!
Wicket!
Kohli’s masterclass comes to an end on 85 from 116 balls as he pulls Hazlewood straight to Labuschagne at mid-wicket.
The right-hander would have had half an eye on a century and half an eye on finishing this in good time.
37 overs. India 167-3
KL Rahul didn’t quite get hold of the first ball of the over with an up and under into the off side.
Maybe fortunate that he clothed it or it could have skied to a fielder.
As it was, Green slid over it when he got there, and they took three.
The evening dew has been mentioned as a reason for the lack of threat from Australia.
Has the ball skidded onto the bat more nicely for the batters with the moisture around in the second innings? Something to reflect upon for all as the tournament progresses.
Rahul also looked discomforted in between the overs after the mistimed on drive to end the last over.
36 overs. India 159-3
The 150 partnership for the fourth wicket comes up with a single first ball of the over.
KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have been magnificent.
Will there be a more important partnership at the World Cup?
The pair came together with the score on 2-3 at the end of the second over.
Kohli offered that one chance with a top edge, which Marsh inexplicably failed to get hands on.
Other than that, these two have been incredible.
KL Rahul lofts a straight drive between bowler and mid-on before the over is out.
He didn’t quite mean for that to go in the air, but the placement was there, and he surely is allowed that little slice of fortune after what has come before.
35 overs. India 151-3
A rare appeal for Australia as Zampa nearly gets through.
It was clearly an inside edge onto the pads as Kohli pushed forward to defend.
You can’t blame the Aussies for getting carried away with a moment of excitement. There hasn’t been much to shout about since the second over of this innings.
34 overs. India 146-3
Having been struck on the head the ball before, Kohli opens the face and drives Starc square of the wicket for four.
Incredible response but should we expect anything less?
The crowd certainly doesn’t, and the chant of their hero’s name rings around the stadium.
Concussion check for Kohli!
Kohli is struck on the helmet by a Starc bouncer.
Protocol means the physio has to come on for a concussion check.
Kohli, who was trying to hook but was through the shot, seems to suggest he is fine, and he is as the physio heads off.
33 overs. India 139-3
Zampa was punched for four first ball of the over by Kohli.
Short and wide from the spinner and punished by the right-hander.
All the pressure has come off India now, and they’re playing this at their own pace – as they were expected to do from the off.
Three singles thereafter in the over.
32 overs. India 132-3
Kohli was dropped on 12 by Marsh, and the replays on the big screen are causing some merriment for the crowd.
Marsh at least seems to see the funny side. Not sure how many other Australians will be smiling at the end of this.
Starc is back but concedes eight off the over, including a glorious cover drive from KL Rahul.
31 overs. India 124-3
Australia have a ball change for Maxwell after four singles are taken off the first four balls of the over.
A couple of dot balls to finish. Could this give them some hope of offering some threat?
Cummins is sticking with his main bowlers for now, and Starc is returning for the 32nd over.
30 overs. India 120-3
Just a single off the over and a relief for Cummins after his last went for 13.
Drinks being called for. I’d imagine there are a few stiff drinks needed Down Under for the Aussie fans.
This has to be a real wake-up call for the Australians if they plan to topple the hosts and the favourites later in the tournament.
29 overs. India 119-3
Maxwell is on the attack but not living up to the nickname “Big Show”.
Australia’s spinners aren’t finding the control and threat that India’s spinner had in the crucial middle overs.
Ashton Agar pulled out of the squad with an injury ahead of the World Cup, and the Aussies are missing him.
Labuschagne can bowl leg breaks, and perhaps Cummins needs to gamble here and hope he can be a golden arm to offer some sort of way back into this.
28 overs. India 116-3
Oh, dear! The wheels really came off for Australia in that over – and from their captain, Cummins, as well.
The third ball of the over didn’t pitch on the cut track and was called a no ball.
The free hit was a slower ball bouncer, which beat Kohli but down the leg side and was signalled a wide.
Cue a second free hit and a boundary for Kohli as another short pull is pulled through mid-wicket.
Twelve runs off the over, and it does not look as though there will be any way back for Australia now.