NEW DELHI: In a striking departure from the T20 cricket trend that has influenced batting strategies in one-day internationals, India opted for a Test match-like approach to clinch a tense victory in their low-scoring World Cup opener against Australia on Sunday.
The match, held in Chennai, saw bowlers dominating after India bundled out Australia for a modest 199 runs. However, India faced their own top-order crisis as three of their top four batters fell for ducks in a one-day international for the first time.
KL Rahul, who remained unbeaten with 97, and Virat Kohli, who contributed 85, orchestrated a match-winning partnership of 165 runs, rescuing India and guiding them to their target with 52 balls to spare.
Rahul revealed that he received crucial advice from his senior teammate, Kohli.
"Virat said there's big help (for bowlers) in the wicket, and (we) just have to play proper shots and play like it's Test cricket for some time and see where it goes. That was mostly the plan, and I'm happy that we could do the job for the team," Rahul said.
The relatively small target allowed the Indian batsmen to take their time in adapting to the challenging pitch, especially when the Australian pacers were applying pressure from both ends. Kohli also had a stroke of luck when Mitchell Marsh dropped him on 12, a costly mistake for Australia.
Australia, a five-time World Cup champion, would be disappointed with their batting performance, as none of their batsmen managed to reach the fifty-run mark. India employed a three-pronged spin attack, which collectively conceded 104 runs in 30 overs while claiming six wickets.
Ravindra Jadeja took three of those wickets and emphasised that he adopted a Test match-like approach, focusing on maintaining a tight line and length rather than attempting extravagant deliveries.
1/10:World Cup: Virat Kohli, KL Rahul guide nervy India to 6-wicket win over Australia
2/10:Defiant knocks by Kohli and Rahul
<p>Virat Kohli and KL Rahul hit defiant knocks to lift India from a perilous three down for two runs to a six-wicket win over Australia in their opening World Cup match on Sunday.<br /></p>PTI
3/10:India lose three inside two overs
<p>Chasing a tricky target of 200, India lost three batsmen, who all failed to score, inside two overs before Kohli (85) and Rahul (97 not out) put on 165. Victory was secured with 52 balls to spare.<br /></p>
4/10:Jadeja shines at Chepauk
<p>Spinner Ravindra Jadeja returned figures of 3-28 to help bowl out Australia for 199 in 49.3 overs in the 150th ODI meeting between the two cricket giants.<br /></p>AP
5/10:Starc sends back Ishan early
<p>Australia's fast bowlers then came out all guns blazing to rattle the Indian top-order after left-arm quick Mitchell Starc sent back Ishan Kishan for a duck in the first over.<br /></p>AP
6/10:Hazlewood dismisses Rohit and Shreyas in one over
<p>Josh Hazlewood struck twice in the next to remove skipper Rohit Sharma lbw and then Shreyas Iyer caught at cover also for nought to silence the home crowd of 32,531.<br /></p>Getty Images
7/10:Marsh drops Kohli and the match too!
<p>Hazlewood nearly made it four down when he got Kohli to top-edge a delivery only for Mitchell Marsh to drop a skier. Kohli was on 12 at the time.<br /></p>Reuters
8/10:Gritty fifties by Kohli, Rahul
<p>Kohli scored his 67th ODI half-century and raised his bat to acknowledge the loud cheers. Rahul soon reached his fifty in the 28th over as India went to 106-3 and in control.<br /></p>
9/10:Hazlewood finally sends Kohli back
<p>Kohli finally fell to Hazlewood, caught out at mid-wicket and walked off to a standing ovation.<br /><br /></p>ANI
10/10:Rahul finishes it off in style!
<p>Rahul hit the winning six with Hardik Pandya at the other end.<br /><br /></p>PTIJadeja explained his approach, saying, "This was my plan, that I should bowl at the stumps, and luckily the ball to Smith turned a little more. My plan was simple. I was thinking that this is a Test match bowling wicket, and I shouldn't experiment too much because everything was happening on the wicket. So I was trying to bowl it stump to stump."
In their next match, India are set to face Afghanistan in New Delhi on Wednesday, looking to build on the confidence gained from their hard-fought victory over Australia and continue their journey in the World Cup.
(With inputs from Reuters)
