India began their ODI World Cup campaign with a resounding victory against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. Despite losing their top three batters, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer in quick succession during the chase of the 200-run target, India found their saviors in Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. The duo orchestrated a remarkable 6-wicket win, forming a crucial 165-run partnership.
In the face of adversity, Kohli and KL Rahul’s partnership proved pivotal. KL Rahul, who initially struggled, found his footing with some guidance from Kohli. “There wasn’t much conversation, to be honest. I was catching my breath after a quick shower, expecting a longer break. But I was back on the field in no time, so there was a bit of a rush. I was trying to recover,” shared Rahul during the post-match presentation.
Kohli’s advice played a significant role. He emphasized the assistance the pitch offered and urged Rahul to focus on playing proper shots, adopting a Test cricket approach. Rahul recalled, “Virat mentioned the wicket was supportive, and we needed to play sensible shots, treating it like a Test match for a while. We stuck to the plan, and I’m pleased that we could deliver for the team.”
In the earlier innings, Australia, after winning the toss, managed to score 199 runs, with David Warner and Steve Smith contributing 41 and 46 runs, respectively. The rest of the Australian batting lineup faltered, losing wickets in quick succession.
