Team India led by Rohit Sharma kick-started their World Cup 2023 venture with a magnificent win over the Australian cricket team at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Men in Blue chipped in with disciplinary bowling performances against Australia from the get-go. As a result, they could restrict the Men in Yellow to 199 in 49.3 overs. Ravindra Jadeja brought the best out of himself by recording 3/28 in 10 overs.
On the contrary, Team India were in all sorts of trouble after losing the top-order batters namely Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer for a duck. This was also the first time in the history of ODIs that three of India’s top-order batsmen were dismissed without scoring a run. Moreover, it was also the seventh instance that the opening pair was dismissed for a duck in ODI World Cup history.
KL Rahul upset after hitting a match-winning six against Australia
When the team were stuttering for 2/3 in 2 overs, the momentum was nearly tilting towards Australia. Nevertheless, the likes of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli assessed conditions and went about their work. The duo stitched together a 165-run partnership for the third wicket before Virat Kohli departed after making 85. However, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya ensured to get the job done as India won the game by 6 wickets.
KL Rahul who was batting on 91 runs had a chance to score a century when India required five runs to win the game. The right-handed batter would have to smash a four and a six to get to his century. However, while aiming for the four, he timed quite exquisitely off Pat Cummins’ bowling as he hammered the ball towards the extra cover for a six. Soon after hitting the ball, he was left disappointed and his reaction went viral.
Winning Six by KI Rahul
Massive#TeamIndia#ViratKohli #KLRahul #INDVAUS #CWC23 #ICCWorldCup #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/T7sfIwTiPF
— पत्रकार मोहतरमा (@AbonitaMallick5) October 8, 2023
KL Rahul was adjudged the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 97* off 115 balls (8 fours and 2 sixes). At the post-match presentation, he revealed the reason behind his disappointed celebration. Talking about the same, he said, “I hit it too well, I just calculated how to get to a 100 in the end. The only way was for a 4 and then a six. But no qualms about not getting 100. Hopefully some other night.”