Ashok Kumar
- Oct 8, 2023
- 5 min read

CWC 2023, IND vs AUS: Rahul, Kohli help India sail through after tough start

CWC 2023, India vs Australia: KL Rahul-Virat Kohli's 165-run stand, Ravindra Jadeja's 3-28 and Josh Hazlewood's 3-38 are top performances. India beat Australia by 6 wickets and move to 5th place in Points Table.

CWC 2023, India vs Australia_ Virat Kohli, KL Rahul added 165-run for 4th wicket for India_ Walking Wicket (Photo_ ©BCCI_Twitter) — Kohli, Rahul added 165-run for 4th wicket for India (Photo: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Brief scores: India 201/4 (KL Rahul 97 not out, Virat Kohli 85, Josh Hazlewood 3/38) beat Australia 199 (Steven Smith 46, David Warner 41, Ravindra Jadeja 3/28) by 6 wickets.

Player of the match: KL Rahul (97 not out)

India produced an all-round display to beat Australia by 6 wickets at Chennai in 2023 Cricket World Cup on Sunday. Chasing 200 for a win, India was reduced to 2 for 3 wickets before Virat Kohli-KL Rahul’s stand of 165 runs solidified its position. Rahul, alongside Hardik Pandya, took India home with more than 8 overs to spare. Today’s match was India’s 150th ODI match against Australia.

Talking points from Australia vs India, Chennai

Australia’s middle-order was exposed in the match, as they lost 5 wickets for just 30 runs to hand the momentum back to India. Besides, the lack of depth in Australia’s spin department was exposed. Adam Zampa seemed out of sync and went for runs, while Glenn Maxwell was at best containing the opposition. If Zampa continues to go for runs, like in this match, the pressure would be on part-time spinner – Maxwell - to deliver on the spinning tracks in India. Australia must sort out these woes quickly.

India spinners bowl out Australia for 199

Australia chose to bat first after winning the toss. Indian pacers kept the Aussie openers in check, but the pair of David Warner and Steven Smith forged a steady partnership of 69 runs for the second wicket to put Australia ahead. The introduction of spin gave India the breakthrough with Kuldeep Yadav taking a return catch to dismiss Warner. Ravindra Jadeja soon got into the act, taking two wickets in an over to derail Australia’s innings. From 110/2, Australia plunged to 140/7, losing 5 wickets for just 30 runs. A cameo of 28 from tail-ender Mitchell Starc saw Australia reach 199 before getting all out. Smith was the top-scorer for Australia with 46, while Jadeja was the best bowler for India with 3/28.

Kohli-Rahul guide India home

India were off to a horrible start, losing three wickets for just 2 runs on the board. It is important to note that two of those wickets fell due to poor shot selection, rather than the bowler’s skill. Ishan Kishan chased a wide delivery to get caught behind off Mitchell Starc on the first ball. Captain Rohit Sharma was caught plumb to an incoming delivery from Josh Hazlewood, while Shreyas Iyer played uppishly to cover and lost his wicket. Kohli got a reprieve early on, at the personal score of 12, when Mitchell Marsh dropped an easy chance. Post this, it was India all the way with the pair of Kohli and KL Rahul playing sensible and risk-free cricket to first take India out of trouble and then ran away with the match with a stand of 165 runs for the fourth wicket.

Let’s take a look at the top three performances from the game between India and Australia in CWC 2023.

CWC 2023, India vs Australia_ RAvindra Jadeja took 3-28 against australia_ Walking Wicket (Photo_ ©BCCI_Twitter) — Ravindra Jadeja took 3-28 against Australia (Photo: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Ravindra Jadeja’s 3/28

Ravindra Jadeja was the standout bowler for India, as he played a key role in bundling out Australia for 199. Smith looked in great form, but his nemesis Jadeja had the final say. After bowling a few balls into the right-hander, Jadeja moved his next delivery slightly away to disturb the stumps of Smith. He also got Marnus Labuschagne to edge it behind after the Aussie went for a wild sweep. In the same over, Jadeja got Alex Carey plumb. Jadeja used the pitch to good effect, but it was his clever bowling that saw the back of three Aussie batsmen, especially Smith who once again fell to the all-rounder’s web.

CWC 2023, India vs Australia_ Virat Kohli scores fifty (85) against Australia in run-chase _ Walking Wicket (Photo_ ©BCCI_Twitter) — Kohli scores fifty (85) against Australia in run-chase (Photo: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Kohli-Rahul stand of 165 runs for the fourth wicket

India was in trouble after losing three early wickets for just 2 runs on the board. It was the stand of 165 runs between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul that took India to a winning position. They first took time to settle down, especially Rahul who had to calm himself after getting in to bat so quickly after keeping for almost 50 overs. The pair started opening up slowly, running hard between the wickets to keep the scorecard ticking. They also scored the odd boundaries to shrug off any notions of pressure. Kohli played his characteristic knock by building an innings through ones and twos, while Rahul soaked in all the pressure, and opened up brilliantly later on to cream some wonderful drives square off the wicket. The two complemented each other brilliantly, playing their natural game to keep India on the path to victory.

Josh Hazlewood’s 3/38

Josh Hazlewood produced a brilliant first spell while defending just 200 runs on the board. His early twin strikes, and that too Rohit and Iyer for ducks, gave a glimmer of hope to Aussies. He first got Rohit plumb to an incoming delivery hitting the top of stumps. In the same over, Hazlewood foxed Iyer with change of pace – resulting in the batter playing uppishly to cover. Later, he came back to break the stand of 165 runs between Kohli and Rahul. Hazlewood was easily the standout bowler for Australia in the match.

Statistical Highlights from India vs Australia game

Mitchell Starc became the fifth bowler in ODI World Cups to take 50 wickets or more. The others in the list are - Glenn McGrath (71), Muthiah Muralitharan (68), Lasith Malinga (56) & Wasim Akram (55).
Starc is now the fastest to take 50 wickets in ODI World Cups. He achieved the feat in just 19 innings, beating the previous record of 25 innings by Lasith Malinga.
David Warner became the fastest to reach 1000 runs in World Cup. He reached the milestone in 19 innings, beating the previous joint record of 20 innings held by Sachin Tendulkar and AB de Villiers.
The 165-run stand between Kohli and Rahul is the highest partnership for the fourth wicket while chasing for India against any team in ODIs.
The 165-run stand is also the best partnership for the fourth wicket for India against Australia in World Cups.
Today’s match was India’s 150th ODI against Australia

ICC Cricket World Cup Points Table — Points Table

Points Table Scenario and What's next

India moved to fifth position with two points at a net run rate (NRR) of 0.883.

Netherlands will look horns with New Zealand on October 9 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad