Australia suffer NIGHTMARE start to Cricket World Cup campaign after falling to six-wicket defeat to India as Virat Kohli punishes Mitch Marsh for dropped catch to hit 85 runs
- Australia lost its first World Cup match
- India chase down Australia’s first innings total of 199
- Mitch Marsh dropped Virat Kohli, who reached 85
Virat Kohli helped pull World Cup favorites and welcome India out of a hole in their first match of the tournament with an elegant 85 against Australia in Chennai.
Having set a modest 200 for victory after their spinners tied Australia by knots, India were reduced to two for three by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood – with Ishan Kishan, captain Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer all looking for ducks.
And it would have been 20 for four if Mitchell Marsh, coming in from mid-wicket – but perhaps distracted by the presence in his eyes of wicketkeeper Alex Carey – had not dropped Kohli on 12 after an unfortunate catch off wide of Hazlewood. “It wasn’t ideal,” said Australian captain Pat Cummins, “especially someone of his caliber.”
Instead, Kohli and KL Rahul grew in confidence to add a decisive 165, with Rahul hitting the winning six to finish unbeaten on 97. The victory by six wickets with almost nine overs to spare returned a crowd of 50,000 at home happy.
Australia suffered a defeat in their opening match of the Cricket World Cup.
Virat Kohli punished Mitch Marsh, who dropped him on 12, to score 85 runs
Sunday’s victory gives hosts India the perfect start to their home campaign
Earlier, Australia reached 74 for one before their innings was played on a turning pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was the star, bowling Steve Smith for 46 with an unplayable delivery en route to figures of three for 28. Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, meanwhile, took two 42s, while the Australia fell to 199.
In contrast, Australian front-row spinner Adam Zampa disappeared for 53 from eight wicketless overs.
Earlier, YouTube prankster Jarvo, who was banned from England grounds after breaching security during India’s 2021 tour, arrived on the field at the start of the match and was confronted by Kohli as he was escorted by security. He was immediately banned by the ICC for the remainder of the tournament.