India began its World Cup 2023 campaign against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
Pat Cummins chose to bat on a wicket that looked like it would slow down as the day progressed.
A big miss for the Indian side was Shubman Gill who did not travel to the ground with the side. Reports suggest he is down with the flu and has not recovered on time to feature in India’s campaign opener.
Infamous pitch invader Daniel Jarvis, known better as Jarvo 69, was in Chennai too, running up to Virat Kohli before he was ushered out of the playing area.
Jasprit Bumrah struck first for India, removing Mitch Marsh for a duck. Bumrah sent in a shorter delivery which produced a thick outside edge, drawing a fine diving catch from Kohli at first-slip. Marsh had to play at it. The ball zipped to the left of first-slip and Kohli leaps to complete the take. AUS 5/1 (2.2 ov)
Kuldeep Yadav broke the Warner-Smith partnership. He sent in the ball a little faster in the air and targeted the stumps. Warner in trying to play the ball ended up gifting a Kuldeep a catch. AUS 74/2 (16.2 ov)
Ravindra Jadeja then came to the party., getting Steve Smith clean bowled. The delivery left even Kohli stunned in the slips.
Marnus Labuschagne fell immediately after with trying to sweep Jadeja. Labuschagne got low to sweep and produced a faint top edge to the keeper. The Aussie batter reviewed the call with reviews showing a clear spike on UltraEdge. AUS 119/4 (29.2 ov)
Kuldeep struck again to remove the dangerous Glenn Maxwell. The Aussie allrounder made room to slog but he didn’t read the incoming ball and ended up with an uprooted leg stump. AUS 140/6 (35.5 ov)
Ravichandran Ashwin got his first wicket of the World Cup with Cameron Green slashing to Hardik Pandya in backward point.
Aussie skipper Pat Cummins tried to mount a resistance and even pulled Kuldeep for a six.
Bumrah eventually Cummins, with the Aussie captain swinging at a good length ball and holing out to Shreyas Iyer in the deep.