India vs Australia HIGHLIGHTS, World Cup 2023: Rahul 97, Kohli 85 lead IND to six-wicket win in Chennai

Good feeling to come out on top. (Bowling and fielding) Magnificent. Especially the fielding. The fielding was something we really put our effort on. It was a great effort. In conditions like this it can be tough sometimes. We knew there would be assistance for everyone. Seamers got reverse, spinners bowled in nice areas. All in all a great effort. (Nervous at 3 for 2?) Yes I was to be honest. You don’t want to start like that when chasing a target. Credit to Australia, but some loose shots there as well. But that happens, you want to get off the mark and score quickly in the powerplay. Hats off to Virat and KL - the way they stuck out there to create a match-winning partnership. (Adapting to next surface?) That will be the biggest challenge moving forward because we will play in different conditions. Might have to change combinations too and as a team we are prepared to do that. (Crowd) Chennai never disappoints. Crowd was brilliant from word go. For them to sitting in the heat and cheering says a lot.

There weren’t a lot of conversations with Kohli. I had just taken a shower and was hoping to put my feet up for half an hour after the fielding innings, but I had to come in. Virat said that I should play like Test cricket for a bit. Happy to play this for the team. There was a bit of help for the fast bowlers early on. Towards the end, the dew played a bit of a part for them. It was still two-paced. It wasn’t a great wicket to bat on, neither was it too difficult. I think it was a good cricket wicket, that’s what you get in South of India especially in Chennai. (The last shot) I hit it too well. I wanted to get a hundred by going four and six. Hopefully some other time I can get it.

Cummins hits length and Rahul flays the ball over deep extra cover for SIX - he finishes unbeaten on 97 as India records a sensational six-wicket win! He probably did not want that to go on the full as he misses out on a well-deserved hundred. Nevertheless, a sensational ton and India’s off the blocks in its WC 2023 campaign.

Maxwell comes around the wicket and slides one across. Rahul steps out and pummels the ball over long-off for another SIX! In the slot and Rahul drills the ball down the ground for FOUR. Another loopy delivery, Rahul steps out and pushes the ball down the ground for a single. A couple of singles to follow. Rahul retains strike.

Rahul and Hardik continue to relay singles as Hazlewood pins the ball towards the stumps. Hazlewood hits the slot and Hardik steps out to pump the ball over long-off for SIX - first of the Indian innings.

Maxwell lines one outside the off-stump. Hardik drives the ball to long-off for a single. No rush from this pair as they tread on singles.

Hazlewood sends in a couple of slower balls that skims past Kohli to the keeper. Hazlewood to Kohli, OUT! Silence at Chepauk. Short ball, there to be hit and Kohli pulls it straight to mid-wicket. THe dugout rises in applause as he trudges back after a sensational 85 off 116 deliveries. Hardik Pandya walks in at 6. He’s off the blocks with a single.

Virat Kohli c Labuschagne b Hazlewood 85 (116b 6x4)

Zampa drops short and Rahul flays the ball over cover for three runs, helped by a sloppy bit of fielding from Green in the deep. Short again and Kohli drags it through square-leg for a single. A slew of singles to follow. India sauntering to the target now.

150-run partnership between KL and Kohli - the highest for India against Australia in World Cups. Length from Hazlewood and Rahul uppishly chips it past Hazlewood and mid-on for FOUR.

150 up for India as Kohli and Rahul seamlessly pick out singles against Zampa. Kohli moves into the 80s with a single. Short from Hazlewood and Rahul swats the ball over mid-wicket for two runs.

Three singles on the trot and Kohli has now faced 100 balls on this tacky pitch! Starc slides in a bouncer and it hits Kohli flush on the helmet as he misses a pull. He immediately signals that he is fine but the physios come out for a mandatory concussion check. Starc overpitches and Kohli slices it through point for FOUR! That’s now India’s highest 4th-wicket stand in World Cups!

Zampa returns.

Short from Zampa and Kohli pummels the ball through cover for FOUR. A single to follow. Rahul charges and opens the face of the blade through point for a single. Kohli reprises the shot to retain strike.

Starc replaces Cummins. Hint of room, Kohli taps the ball to deep backward point and finds two runs. Starc follows up with a wide down leg. Starc pushes the ball a little further up on the edge off the good length and beats Kohli’s drive on the way to the keeper. Starc lines one in and Rahul gently moves his front-leg back and carves the ball through extra cover for FOUR.

Maxwell continues. Rahul finds a single off the first ball. Loose ball outside the off-stump. Kohli shies back and slaps the ball to deep point for a single. The umpires opt for a change in ball after four deliveries as it loses significant colour.

A hint of room and Rahul cuts the ball down to third for a single. Cummins cramps up Kohli with a nip-backer. Kohli does well to keep it off his pads. Tight lines and Kohli continues to dig them out. Just the single from the over. DRINKS.

Maxwell replaces Zampa. Maxwell tosses one outside the off-stump. Rahul has a feel for it but misses. He knocks the next one down to long-on for a single. Three from the over.

FIFTY for Rahul off 72 balls. An assured drive off Cummins to deep cover for the single, almost exemplifying his knock in a whole so far. Cummins attempts a slower-ball and it falls way off the pitch on the off-side. The umpire signals a no-ball. Free hit for Kohli and it’s a wide as Cummins rolls in a slower-bouncer down leg. Another slower-ball and Kohli swats it through wide long-on for FOUR.

Short from Zampa and Rahul slaps it to deep cover for a single. Kohli complements with a run. Rahul drives the ball to long-on for another single. 100-run partnership between VK and KL! Kohli manoeuvers the ball behind square and reels in two more runs.

FIFTY for Virat Kohli with a fierce pull off a short ball from Cummins. Stoic knock and he reaches the mark off 75 deliveries. Chepauk rises in applause. India halfway there, 100 up in 26 overs.

Zampa continues. Rahul gets bottom edge trying to cut this ball late and it misses off-stump before going behind for a single. This is driven down the ground for one more by Kohli. Three singles to start the over. Flicked by Kohli through midwicket for a couple more. He moves to 48 with that. Tossed up and defended on leg-side to end the over.

Hazlewood will continue. A couple of dot balls to start the over. Kohli pulls this along the ground to deep square for a single. Driven back to Hazlewood by Rahul next ball. Drifted on the pads and Rahul defends. Single for Rahul to end the over.

Zampa changes ends after an expensive first spell. Kohli starts off with a single. A short one is pulled away hard by Rahul but for just one at deep midwicket. Rahul defends off the inside edge and this trickles to short fine.

Hazlewood is back. A single for Kohli first ball and both batters are now level at 40. Some signs of the ball reversing now as this one goes off the inside half of Kohli’s bat. Dabbed to third-man for one more by Kohli and he keeps strike.

Pushed by Rahul off Starc though covers for a single off the first ball. Kohli swivels and pulls next ball for just one more behinnd point. A bit of an inside edge as Rahul looks to guide this through point. Full on middle and off and Rahul simply pushes this to mid-off.

Zampa continues. Cut away first ball by Rahul for a couple. Misfield next ball and Marnus allows a single a to be conceded. Rahul punches off the backfoot for a single at long-off. Excellent strike rotation as a couple and five singles come from it.

Kohli tucks this behind square-leg for a single. Rahul cuts late again and this is just a single to third man. Shortish and beaten! Rahul wants to pull but cannot connect. Single for Rahul off the last ball and four runs from it.

And here comes Adam Zampa finally. Pitched up on middle and driven down the ground by Kohli for a single. Rahul pushes at this a little aerially and almost to the point fielder. FOUR! Played late by Rahul as he hangs back and cuts this to the third-man boundary. Rahul presses foward to defend this on one-side. FOUR! Carbon copy of the previous boundary in this over. He waits and steers this to the third-man fence delicately. FOUR! Now this is a statement of power. As delicate as the two boundaries were in this over, this full toss was dispatched through covers by Rahul.

Starc comes back from over the wicket to Rahul. Full and driven by Rahul for a single through cover-point. One more for Kohli as he tucks this off the pads behind square. Guided to deep third by Rahul for a single again. Bouncer and Kohli lets it go without fuss. Pushed to mid-on by Kohli for a quick single and he will keep strike.

Maxwell again. Punched behind point by Rahul for a couple. Fifty up for India in 15.2 overs. The fifty-run partnership now comes up between Rahul and Kohli, off 84 balls, as Rahul tucks one off the backfoot behind square for a single.

Green continues. Length ball pitching on off and tucked to midwicket by Kohli. Beaten! Short of a length, pitching outside off and it moves away late to beat Kohli’s attempted dab behind the wicket. This is dabbed to backward point for a fourth dot ball in a row. FOUR! Full on middle and Kohli clips this beautifully through midwicket for a boundary. FOUR! Flicked again and this beats midwicket’s right on its way to the boundary.

Maxwell again. Kohli gets a bottom edge on the pull and the ball trickles to fine-leg for a single. Rahul guides this through point for one more. A single for Kohli to end the over. Three runs from it.

Cameron Green comes into the attack and Kohli greets him by pulling him for a single at deep midwicket. Short of a length angling in and Rahul hops and punches this through covers for a single. Short ball and Kohli guides this aerially to deep third for a single. Rahul pulls at midwicket and wants a quick single but turned down. Beaten! This one nips in and keeps very low as Rahul shapes for the cut shot. Beaten! Now this one bounces extra and takes Rahul by surprise. Uneven bounce now haunting the Indian batters.

Maxwell again. Still only three fielders outside the circle for Australia as they look to attack and take wickets. A couple of dots to start the over. Now three fielders are outside the circle on leg-side and one on the off. This spins into Rahul sharply and he goes back and dabs this to short third. A single for him next ball with a push to long-on. The run rate not a worry for India. This is drifted on the pads and Kohli clips it for a single to square-leg. Just two singles from the over.

Cummins continues. Kohli takes a single off the second ball with a gentle dab behind point. Rahul taps this to point as the ball keeps low. FOUR! Rahul leans into this punch through cover-point. Exquisite timing and placement. This one is close to the body and Rahul cuts it straight to point. Tucked off the backfoot by Rahul for a single at deep square and he will keep strike.

Glenn Maxwell into the attack. Kohli deftly works the ball to mid-on and reels in a quick single. Maxwell lines it up against the stumps and Rahul stands deep in the crease to defend. Just a single from it as Australia ends the first PowerPlay on a strong note.

The odd balli is keeping low but Rahul and Kohli rotate strike proactively with singles against Cummins. Kohli flicks the ball towards mid-on for a single and retains strike. Five from the over.

Hazlewood continues. Hits the length and Kohli stands upright to block it out. IN THE AIR AND AUSTRALIA DROPS KOHLI IN THE CIRCLE! A superb bouncer climbs onto Kohli’s attempted pull. He gets a top-edge that falls just between Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey on the on-side. Marsh probably got a hand on it as well. Whew! Kohli gets off strike with a slice to third for a single.

Cummins replaces Starc. He seams the ball into the batters, Kohli and Rahul find a couple of singles. Cummins constricts Rahul with a straight line.

Kohli continues to remain solid on defence. BEATEN! A wild swing through the line and Hazlewood rushes one past the outside-edge. And there’s the riposte! A gently shuffle across and Kohli smokes the fuller ball down the ground for FOUR. Hazlewood drops short and Kohli flicks the ball behind square for two runs.

Starc continues to tail the ball in and shape it across the turf against Kohli who continues to show tremendous restraint. Kohli sets off on another quick single with a push to mid-off. Two from the over.

Hazlewood gets one to spring up from the deck and Kohli gets a faint outside-edge towards wide slip. BEATEN! Hazlewood draws his length back and rushes one past Kohli’s blade to the keeper. Hazlewood testing Kohli’s patience outside the off-stump, pushing another one into the channel. He follows up with a inswinger and Kohli nudges it to mid-on for a single. Hazlewood overpitches and Rahul drives elegantly through cover for FOUR.

Starc swings one and Kohli nimbly flicks it through square for two runs. Starc attacks the middle-stump and Kohli leans forward for a solid defence. The heat is really on. Starc almost finding the perfect length for Kohli, hitting the channel outside the off-stump. He drags it further out and Kohli goes poking at it. Beaten! Starc overpitches and Kohli pushes the ball to mid-off and sets off on a single.

Josh Hazlewood from the opposite end.

Nip-backer from Hazlewood and GONE! Hits flush on the pads and the umpire raises his finger. Rohit reviews but he has a weary look on his face. UMPIRE’S CALL and Rohit falls for a duck!

Shreyas Iyer is in at 4. Incredible! Incredible! Hazlewood bags another one. Length ball and Iyer chips it straight to Warner at cover.

Rohit Sharma lbw b Hazlewood 0 (6b); Shreyas Iyer c Warner b Hazlewood 0 (3b)

Mitchell Starc up with the new ball. Rohit on strike with a slip in place.

Starc steams in and sends a wide down leg. Rohit shuffles gently across the line and Starc swings it in onto the pads, but it sliding down leg. There’s the yorker, angling in from the off-stump and Rohit bends low to dig it out. Another delivery straying to the pads and Rohit gets off strike with a leg-bye down to the keeper. Starc to Kishan, OUT! Edged and taken! A golden duck on World Cup debut for Kishan. Mitchell Starc becomes the fastest bowler to record 50 WC wickets!

Virat Kohli is in at 3.

Ishan Kishan c Green b Starc 0 (1b)

Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan walk out for India’s chase. Pat Cummins’ spread out across the field.

A commendable job by the Indian bowling unit. It was backed by the fielder too. It started off well with the early wicket of Mitchell Marsh. David Warner and Steve Smith reconstructed the innings for a bit but getting Kuldeep Yadav worked the trick in the form of Warner’s wicket.

The spinners Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep then dried out the runs for Smith and Marnus Labuschagne before skittling out the middle order. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins did provide some resistance down the order which allowed Australia to drag the innings till the final over.

But at the beginning of the innings, Rohit Sharma would have happily agreed for a 200-run target. It is upto the batters now to finish the job and get India’s World Cup campaign off the mark in style.

Siraj to bowl the final over. Starc hits the first to long on but opts to retain the strike. FOUR! Overpitched and Starc fires it straight down the ground. WICKET! SIRAJ GETS STARC. He goes for a pull shot, gets a top edge and Iyer comes running in from deep square leg to pull it off just outside the ring.

Hardik Pandya to bowl the penultimate over. Gets taping on his right hand before doing so. He had hurt his middle finger earlier while fielding a Warner shot.

WICKET! Zampa looks to loft over the mid off fielder. He lands the ball straight in the hands of Virat Kohli.

Adam Zampa c Kohli b Pandya 6 (20)

Josh Hazlewood starts with a drive to deep cover for a single. FOUR! Strays on the pads and Starc flicks it past the short fine leg fielder. A single to finish the over.

Siraj back into the attack. Starc pulls the first ball. It is a miscue and only a single is possible. A wide down leg adds another run to Australia’s tally. Zampa gets a single on the fourth delivery. A slower bouncer to Starc but it goes too high and it given a wide. Gets a single to long on on the fifth..

Bumrah for his final over. Starc on strike. SIX! Starc gobbles up a short delivery with a pull shot. Packs it away into the stands. Bumrah replies with a yorker. Starc is lucky that it goes wide of off stump. Another one in the block hole, Starc is able to get bat to it and block. WIDE to follow. The last one is again a yorker but Starc gets an inside edge to fine leg which allows a single.

Bumrah ends his 10 with 2/34.

Ashwin to Starc, punched to long off for one run. Zampa leans forward and works it to long on to pocket a run. Starc misses a slog sweep on the third. Starc taps the fifth on the on side and runs away for one. Zampa defends the last ball. Three runs from the over and Ashwin ends with 1/34.

Bumrah continues. Starc runs the first delivery down to third man for a single. Zampa gets an edge which runs down to third man, a single taken. Starc is beaten by a delivery that stays low. Starc slaps the fifth one down the ground, long on fields it and the batters run a single. WIDE! Bumrah tries a slower delivery. It foxes Zampa alright but runs down the leg.

Jadeja to Zampa. DROPPED! Zampa gets an outside edge, hits the pad of Rahul and pops up for Rohit at first slip. The India skipper tries to latch on to it but fumbles and lets it slip.

A maiden to end his spell. Jadeja ends with 3/28.

Bumrah to Starc, one leg bye to square leg to start. WICKET! Cummins is caught at long on. Swings at a good length ball, does not middle it and holes out in the deep.

Pat Cummins c Iyer b Bumrah 15 (24)

Adam Zampa in at No. 10. He is beaten on the first delivery. Just floats his bat in the air hoping to defend. Clips the next over square to pick two runs. A single off the final delivery.

Jadeja to Cummins. Beaten! Cummins leans forward to defend and the ball pitches on length and turns away from him. Cummins attempts a reverse but finds the backward point fielder in the way. A slog and a miss on the fifth. Four leg byes! Jadeja wants to fire the final delivery quicker. It goes down leg off the thigh and Rahul cannot save it.

Jasprit Bumrah for his third spell today. India going for the final kill. Starc gets a trickle down to third man for a run. The second is full and at the stumps, Cummins defends. No run off the third. Cummins shuffles across to play the fourth, the ball thuds onto the back pad and rolls to the keeper. Slogs the fifth over mid wicket, two runs taken. Pulls the final delivery to deep square leg for one.

Kuldeep to Starc. No run, Starc gets to the pitch and works it on the on side but mid wicket stops it. Drives the second to long on. SIX! A welcome boundary. Reads the length, rocks back into his crease and pulls it away. CHANCE! Cummins is not in line of the pitch and attempts a defence. The ball takes an edge, stays low and falls short of Rohit at first slip. FOUR! Off an edge! This one goes very fine and Rohit had no chance.

Ashwin to Cummins. Takes the third delivery on the full and clips it to deep mid wicket for a single. An innovative sweep from Cummins down to fine leg but that gets only one run. Starc goes on the back foot to work the next to the on side, one run. Dot ball to finish.

Kuldeep to Cummins. Beaten! He floats it outside off and gets it to turn in. Cummins has no clue where this one went. Blocks the second. Beaten again! Cummins jabs outside off as the ball thuds onto his pads. Pulls the fifth delivery behind square for one run. Starc slaps to long on for one run. It was in the air for a moment but safely wide of Kuldeep.

Ashwin to Green. Starts with a defence on back foot. GONE! That’s caught at point. Green sees this one wide and cuts. Does not time it and hands a simple catch to Pandya.

Cameron Green c Pandya b Ashwin 8 (20)

Mitchell Starc comes in. Plays out the four deliveries without troubling the scorers. A wicket maiden for Ashwin.

Kuldeep replaces Jadeja. Pitches short and Maxwell hangs back to pull. It is a miscue and allows only a run before Kishan gathers it at deep square leg. Green defends the second ball. Taps the third to long on for a single. Maxwell takes two steps down the track and opts to defend. WICKET! BOWLED HIM! Maxwell makes room to slog at it but cannot read the ball coming. The leg stump is uprooted. The off stump goes popping out.

Glenn Maxwell b Kuldeep Yadav 15 (25)

Pat Cummins defends the first ball.

Ashwin back into the attack. Green faces him. He gets a thick edge to the point region and picks a single. A change of bat for Maxwell. Punches the second delivery to long on. The third is on off and middle and Green blocks it. A front foot defence to follow. Green dances down to clear the fence, the bat turns in his hand and he has to settle for just one run to deep square leg. Now Maxwell miscues his heave on the on side. Just beats the short mid wicket. Four from the over.

Jadeja to Green. Punches to deep cover for a single. Maxwell leans forward and places the ball to deep point to pick one run. Green defends the third. The fourth is driven to long off for the third run of the over. Maxwell swings at the final delivery but Kohli stops it at cover.

Bumrah to Green, no run! Stays low and Green misses. Dot ball, Green plays on the up and defends to point. Another dot ball. Outside off and Green is happy to tap it to point. Green drives and a misfield at mid off allows him to get off strike. Maxwell gets on his backfoot to defend this good length delivery. BEaten! The final ball beats the outside edge. Just one run from the over.

Jadeja to Green. Driven to deep point for one run. Maxwell works it away to fine leg for another single. No run off the third delivery. Green drives to long off for a single. FOUR! Maxwell makes room and slashes the ball through covers, beats the fielder in the deep. That boundary has come after 73 deliveries.

Jasprit Bumrah returns to bowl his fifth over. Maxwelll defends the first delivery fired in at the stumps. A good length delivery next at the off stump line, Maxwell defends again. A bouncer to follow and Maxwell leaves it undisturbed, given a WIDE. Another block from Maxwell, this one on a delivery angling into the pads. Another wide, this time down the leg. Bumrah rolls his fingers to take the pace off, another defence. The final delivery is clipped away to deep square for two runs. Four runs from the over.

Jadeja into his sixth over and Rohit is back on the field. OUT! Labuschagne goes! He gets low to sweep this and gets a faint top edge to the keeper. Marnus reviews but there is a clear spike on UltraEdge. Alex Carey is the next man in. Jadeja has removed Smith and Labuschagne in quick succession and the Aussies in some trouble now. A leg slip in place for Carey. Loud appeal for LBW and it’s given! Carey doesn’t review and he’s gone! This pitched on leg-stump and Carey looked to defend this by pressing forward but the ball hits him on the pad. Two wickets in three balls for Jadeja. Green is next in and starts off with a couple of dot balls.

Kuldeep will continue. On leg-stump and tucked away by Marnus to fine-leg for a single. Short on leg-stump and Maxwell pulls this behind square for one more. Full on middle and leg now and swept by Marnus for a single again. Going down leg and Maxwell misses the paddle sweep and the ball seems to have gone off his pad as it is not called wide. Hardik is currently making the field placements as Rohit is in the dugout. Maxwell connects the cheeky scoop this time but Ishan with another brilliant effort at fine-leg to keep it to a couple.

Jadeja with the ball again. OUT! Stunning dismissal and Smith is clean bowled. Turns away from Smith, beats his outsid edge and knocks the off-stump. A stunned look on Virat Kohli’s face too. Maxwell comes in and gets off the mark with a single first ball. Marnus makes room on off after hopping to the leg-side and punches this to deep point for one. Defended back to the bowler by Maxwell to end the over.

Kuldeep is back. Beaten! Over the wicket and angling away, Marnus look to dab this to third-man but misses as the ball turns in slightly after pitching. There is an umpire review for stumping and Marnus has his foot inside comfortably. Reverse-sweep next ball but just a single. Miscued sweep from Smith and just a single at deep square-leg. Marnus scoops this to fine-leg and some excellent fielding by the agile Ishan Kishan keeps it down to a couple. Punched to cover but Hardik with some sharp fielding and just a single. Pushed off the backfoot for a single at long-off by Smith.

Jadeja to bowl his fourth. Rohit and Kohli are having a long discussion with Jadeja ahead of the over. Australia scoring at just over four runs an over. Smith chips this in the air and falls short of Siraj, who comes running in from long-off a tad too late. A couple of dot balls to follow and then Marnus gets a leading edge to Jadeja and this is just short of him yet again. Driven to long-on by Marnus for a single.

Siraj will continue. Marnus clips this off his legs for a couple at deep square-leg. Hundred up for Australia in 24.1 overs. Smith looks to scoop this behind but changes his mind at the last moment as this is pitched wide outside off and he fails to connect. Three dots in a row and Smith is really struggling to rotate strike here. A single for Smith at deep square-leg to end the over.

Jadeja again. Driven by Smith through extra-cover and mid-off for a single. Marnus flicks this off his legs for one more. Carved through point by Smith for just a single again. Marnus punches this straight to mid-on. Tucked off the pads for a single last ball.

Siraj comes back after some tight overs of spin bowling. Length ball angling into him and Smith defends solidly. Steered to deep third for a single by Smith. This is gently dabbed to deep third by Marnus for a couple as Ashwin dives at the boundary to save two runs. Pulled away awkwardly to square-leg for one more. Length just outside off and Smith drops this in front of point. Defended back to Siraj and that’s the end of another economical over.

Jadeja continues. Jadeja keeps it on the stumps and doesn’t give much flight. Just a single off the first four deliveries. Make it one from five balls as Jadeja rifles through this over. Defended back to the bowler.

Kuldeep again. Shortish, flat and the ball skids through and beats Smith, who attempts to cut this hard. A single at long-off next ball for Smith. On a length on leg and Marnus looks to play it fine and doesn’t connect. Cut away and straight to point. Loose ball but Marnus couldn’t put it away. Marnus sweeps this behind deep square for a single. Short ball pulled away by Smith for a single at deep midwicket.

Ravindra Jadeja into the attack. Punched to deep point by Marnus for a single. This is guided through point for one more by Smith. FOUR! Drifted down leg a bit and Marnus turns it down behind and Ashwin can’t get to it at short third and the ball runs away to the boundary. A couple of singles to end the over.

Kuldeep continues. A couple of dot balls to start the ovee. Labuschagne tucks this one of his pads for a single behind. Smith defends this length ball on middle and off to the bowler. Defended again to short cover by Smith. Another dot to end the over.

Ashwin again and the ball rips past Smith’s outside edge. Yes, it is the carrom ball! Just two singles from the over and Ashwin keeps it on a tight line.

Kuldeep again. Smith goes inside his crease and tucks this off his pads for a single at fine-leg. Pitching on middle and turning into Warner, who sweeps this to short fine-leg for a dot ball. OUT! Massive wicket for India as Warner hands a simple return catch to Kuldeep. Marnus Labuschagne the next man in. Three dots to end the over.

Ashwin to continue. Warner pushes it to wide long-off for one. Smith whips this off his pads for one more at deep midwicket. Warner steps out and flicks straight to midwicket. Shimmies out of his crease again and whipped to mid-on. Inside edge onto pad now as Warner makes a bit of room outside off and looks to drive this. Just two runs from the over.

Kuldeep continues. Tossed up on off and defended by Warner. Turning away this one and Warner makes room and cuts straight to point. Slightly shorter on middle and Warner defends this off the backfoot on leg-side. FOUR! Straying down leg and Warner tickles it down to the boundary behind. Extra bouncer, some turn and Warner almost cuts this into the hands of the backward point fielder as the ball goes off the edge. That will be drinks!

Ashwin continues. FOUR! Warner steps out and goes inside out with the turn and over the covers for a boundary. Pitching on leg and pushed to long-on by Warner for a single. Clipped through square by Smith for one more. Tossed up and Warner steps out again to flick this to wide long-on for one more.

Kuldeep Yadav into the attack. Warner straightaway misses a sweep as Kuldeep pitches it full. Appeal for LBW but definitely going down leg-side. Slower and full on middle and flicked through square-leg by Smith for one more. Driven down the ground by Warner for one more as Kuldeep fails to stop this one off his own bowling. Smith drives down the ground for one more at long-off. Drifting down leg and quicker and Warner misses to flick this on leg-side. Warner prods at this flighted delivery and it goes off the outside edge and through a vacant slip cordon for one.

Ashwin continues. Slip in place for Warner. Sliding on leg and tucked behind by Warner to short fine-leg. He whips this full one off his pads for a single. One more for Smith through leg-side next ball. Warner goes for a slog sweep but misses. Stifled appeal for LBW. He defends striding forward next ball. Flicked for a single off the last ball.

Hardik comes back, On a length outside off and Smith drives it crisply straight to short cover after stepping out. FOUR! Full outside off and Smith lofts this down the ground for a boundary. Not off the middle of the bat but enough to take it all the way to the rope. Full and straight this one and driven back to the bowler. FOUR! Not too short and Smith pulls this away with disdain and to the boundary. Fifty up for Australia in 10.4 overs. Fullish and driven to the extra-cover fielder by Smith.

Ashwin continues to maintain a straight line. Not a lot of turn as yet and the batters rotate strike with singles. Ashwin slides one in and hits high on Warner’s pads. A stifled appeal but it’s too high. Width from Ashwin and Warner drives the ball through cover for FOUR.

Bumrah returns. Smith attempts to disrupt Bumrah with a nimble shuffle and flick but finds the mid-wicket fielder. A single to follow. Warner attempts an off-cutter and Warner heaves the ball across the line for two runs.

Ashwin replaces Siraj. A slider to start with and Warner drives the ball through cover for a single. Ashwin hops in from a wider angle and rushes one past Smith’s outside-edge, beaten. Straighter ball onto the pads, Smith works it across the line for a single.

Hardik replaces Bumrah. Full delivery, Warner pushes the ball to cover. Hardik overpitches and Warner drives the ball down the ground. Hardik gets a hand on it but cannot deny a FOUR. 1000 runs for Warner at the World Cups - the fastest to the mark! Hardik has hurt his finger and we have a pause in play.

The physios tend to him and he’s ready to go again. Short from Hardik and Warner hooks the ball behind square for FOUR. A single to follow. Hardik overpitches and Smith drills the ball past him for another FOUR.

Siraj continues to pepper deliveries on the middle-stump line. Smith employs a rigid defence. Four dots on the bounce. Another dipping in on the full and Smith crouches to put wood to ball. Siraj offers drivable length and Smith pounces on it but Kohli intercepts it at cover to earn the bowler a maiden.

Bumrah overpitches and Smith crunches the ball through mid-off for FOUR. Bumrah tightens his line and Smith continues to hold a straight bat to fend them off the stumps. Bumrah tails one in and Smith pushes the ball towards mid-on and sets off on a single. Beaten again! Warner remains tentative against the outswinger and Bumrah gets one to climb on from length.

Siraj to Smith. Outside edge! The ball nips away and takes an edge off Smith and rolls to the point fielder. The second is at the off stump line and Smith defends. The third is driven but Iyer makes a diving save at short cover. FOUR! Full and on the pads and Smith lets it onto him and clips away. The extra cover fielder stops a drive on the fifth. The last one angles in, Smith taps to mid on and runs for a single. There is a direct hit at the non-striker’s end but Smith is home safe.

Bumrah to Marsh, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! A fine diving catch from Kohli at first-slip. Thick outside-edge off a shorter length, Marsh had to play at it. The ball zips to the left of first-slip and Kohli leaps to complete a fine catch. A six-ball duck for Marsh!

Steve Smith in at 3. Sharp delivery, moving in and Smith works it out to the off-side. Bumrah continues to target the off-stump and Smith pushes it out towards cover. Fuller delivery, Smith lunges forward to push and charge for a quick single. A corker to finish. Bumrah zips one sharply past Warner’s outside-edge to the keeper. Top delivery.

Mitchell Marsh c Kohli b Bumrah 0 (6b)

Mohammed Siraj into the attack.

Width on the full and Warner hammers it through cover-point for FOUR. Siraj dips another on length and Warner leaves the ball a shade outside the off-stump. Better line and he enforces three dots on the trot. Shorter delivery. Warner makes room to cut but finds the cover fielder. Just the four from the over.

David Warner takes strike. Jasprit Bumrah is up with the new ball. Two slips in place.

BEATEN first-up! A hint of away movement from the deck for Bumrah as he shapes the ball past the outside-edge to the keeper. Fuller delivery and Warner taps the ball through cover for a single, Australia’s away. Probing fuller delivery on the fourth-stump line and Marsh leaves it on length. Straighter delivery this time and Marsh pushes the ball towards cover. Bumrah maintains his length. Marsh drives but finds the point fielder. Sharp! Another in-ducker but Marsh holds his ground with a firm push.

In walk Rohit’s men as David Warner and Mitchell Marsh walk out for Australia.

The players line up for the national anthems.

India XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

Australia XI: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa

TOSS: Australia wins toss, opts to bat.

Pat Cummins: We’ll bat first, looks like a good wicket. Sun is out, good opportunity to bat. We are in a good spot, we’ve played a lot over the last month.

Rohit Sharma: The conditions are there for the bowlers, slightly on the slower side. We need to understand our lines and lengths early. We’ve played a lot of cricket before the WC, played two good series’ and covered all our bases. He (Shubman Gill) hasn’t recovered in time. Ishan comes in to replace him, he will open the batting.

TOSS coming up.....

Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins walk out to the middle.

The toss is coming up in about 12 minutes. Here’s a look at the Dream11 predicted team for the day:

Wicket-Keepers: KL Rahul

Batters: Virat Kohli, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Glenn Maxwell, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav

Team composition: IND 7-4 AUS | Credits left: 7

Body feels good. You miss the feeling of contributing to the team so excited for the tournament. We are one of the few lucky ones to play a home World Cup. Australia will make for cracking competition. Feeling is relaxed because we’ve played a lot of cricket recently. We were fresh and trained even when there wasn’t any warm-up game. Will try to enjoy the occasion because in a big tournament you tend to overthink and go beyond the situation. It will be a little hot.

Most ODIs played between two teams:

• 167: India-Sri Lanka
• 156: Pakistan-Sri Lanka
• 155: Australia-England
• 150*: India-Australia

• Rohit Sharma needs 22 runs to become the fastest batter to record 1000 World Cup runs. David Warner needs eight runs to break the same record.
• Rohit Sharma needs three sixes to become the leading six-hitter in international cricket.
• Mitchell Starc needs one wicket to become the fastest bowler to complete 50 World Cup wickets.
• Rohit Sharma needs two sixes to become the batter with most sixes against a single team in ODIs. He has 84 sixes vs Australia, behind Gayle’s 85 sixes vs England.

Just In: Shubman Gill is not on the team bus, confirms the broadcaster.

It’s clear and sunny in an around the city. But here’s the full weather update for the day:

IND vs AUS LIVE Chennai weather updates, World Cup 2023: Will rain affect India vs Australia match at Chepauk today?

IND vs AUS, LIVE World Cup 2023 weather updates: Rain could partially affect the India vs Australia ODI World Cup match in Chennai on Sunday.

Head-to-head record so far:

Matches played: 149

India won: 56

Australia won: 83

No Result: 10

Last result: Australia won by 66 runs (Rajkot; Sep. 2023)

Last five results: IND won - 2; AUS won - 3

Life will come a full circle for R. Ashwin on Sunday if he makes the playing XI against Australia. After being away from ODI cricket for nearly six years, the premier off-spinner has made it back just in time for a home ODI World Cup and an opener in his hometown in Chennai.

Ashwin’s origin story: How an aspiring medium-pacer became one of world’s best off-spinners

Vijaya Kumar, Ashwin’s childhood coach, transformed him from a batter to an off-spinner and the latter has since dedicated himself to the craft. He has a fighting spirit & guides other players. Expectations are high from him in the 2023 WC.

The World Cup’s much-needed adrenaline shots will be delivered at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium when India takes on Australia here on Sunday.

Cricket’s premier championship has moved sedately since New Zealand ambushed England at Ahmedabad on Thursday, but the sporting caravan will definitely gain some zest as the host finally joins the party.

In recent times, India versus Australia has been a recurring template.

These are the willow game’s coincidences, determined by both accessibility and commerce. Just this March, Australia turned up at Chennai and used leg-spinner Adam Zampa to stun the Indians in an ODI and claim that series 2-1.

IND vs AUS, ICC World Cup 2023: India, Australia set to renew rivalry on cricket’s biggest stage

The Indian cricket team just won the gold at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, while for the senior bunch, the march towards ICC ODI World Cup glory starts now.

INDIA: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.

AUSTRALIA: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.

What time will IND vs AUS World Cup match begin?

The India vs Australia ICC ODI World Cup 2023 match will begin at 2:00 PM IST.

Which TV channel will broadcast IND vs AUS World Cup match Live?

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 match between India and Australia will be telecast LIVE on the Star Sports networkfrom 2:00 PM IST onwards.

Where to watch Live streaming of IND vs AUS World Cup match?

The ICC World Cup 2023 match between India and Australia will be streamed LIVE on the Disney+Hotstar app and website.