ODI World Cup 2023: India vs Australia, 5th Match - Who Said What?

India started their campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on a winning note as they beat Australia by six wickets on Sunday, October 06 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. After opting to bat first, Australia were bundled out for 199 as Ravindra Jadeja picked up 3/28 with the ball.

In reply, India didn’t get off to a great start as they were left reeling at 2/3 after Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer got dismissed for ducks. However, a game-changing 165-run partnership between Virat Kohli (85 off 116) and KL Rahul (97 off 115) made sure that India won the match by six wickets as they chased down the target in 41.2 overs.

Here are the talking points from the match:

1. Ravindra Jadeja’s love affair with Chennai continues

The left-arm spinner was the pick of the bowlers for India as he registered figures of 3/28 in ten overs. Jadeja dismissed Smith (46 off 71), Marnus Labuschagne (27 off 41) and Alex Carey (0 off 2) to leave Australia reeling on 119/4 after 29.2 overs.

2. India’s top-order collapse

India had to leave out Shubman Gill from the playing XI as he was down with dengue fever. In his place, Ishan Kishan was brought into the XI to open the innings. However, the southpaw failed to leave a mark as he chased a wide half volley by Mitchell Starc and got caught at slip by Cameron Green. Captain Rohit Sharma (0 off 6) and Shreyas Iyer (0 off 3) also departed quickly as India were left struggling at 2/3.

3. KL Rahul continues his sensational form

The wicketkeeper batter has been having a dream run with the bat ever since his comeback to the team after injury. Rahul once again shone with the bat as he scored an unbeaten 97 (115) with the help of eight fours and two sixes in his innings and got the Player of the Match award.

Also Check: ODI World Cup 2023 Points Table

Losing Captain, Pat Cummins, Australia said:

At least 50-odd (short with the bat). It was tough, trying to defend anything under 200.. It was a really good bowling attack and their spinners made it tough work out there. I wasn't too upset (with just two spinners), we had 20 overs of spin but some more runs on the board would have made the difference. I have already forgotten about it (the drop catch), it happens, 4/10 would have been a dream start. He (Hazlewood) is a class bowler and poses a lot of questions, stays in that area and was fantastic today. We have to review this one, absolutely a tough surface, but what if we are up against it then how would we do differently. Just one game out of nine, not too much to ponder about but there are some areas we need to get better. No (in hindsight would he have changed his decision at the toss?).

Winning Captain, Rohit Sharma, India said:

Pretty exciting. Good feeling to come out on top. It was a good game to start the tournament for us. I thought it was magnificent, especially the fielding and we saw the effort from everyone today, conditions like this it would be tough. Our bowlers used the conditions perfectly and we knew there would be assistance for everyone, even the seamers got some reverse, the spinners bowled in the nice areas and all in all it was a great effort. I was (nervous), you don't want to start your innings like that, credit to the Aussies bowlers as they bowled in good areas but some loose shots as well, when you have that kind of target you want to score as much as possible in the powerplay, but credit to Virat and KL on how they went about the chase. That is going to be the challenge for us as a team, moving to different conditions and adapting, whoever suits the conditions will have to come and do the job. Chennai never disappoints, they love their cricket and for them to sit in that heat and come out and cheer for the team says a lot.

KL Rahul, Player of the Match said:

(On walking out at 2/3) Quite honestly not a lot of conversation, I thought I’d get a good shower and get a break. I was just trying to get my breath back. Virat said there’s a bit in the wicket, so play like Test cricket for a while. There was a bit of help for the pacers with the new ball, and then the spinners also. In the last 15-20 overs, dew played a part and that helped quite a bit. The ball also skidded on better. However, it was a bit two-paced, it wasn’t the easiest of wickets to bat on and it wasn’t flat as well. It was a good cricket wicket, bit for the batters and the bowlers. That’s what you get in the south of India, especially Chennai. (On the last six) I hit it too well, I just calculated how to get to a 100 in the end. The only way was a four and a six, but no qualms on not getting to that hundred.