India and Australia squared off in the fifth game in the ongoing ODI World Cup on a difficult batting surface in Chennai on Sunday, October 8.
Chasing a tricky 200-run target, India lost their first three wickets with just two runs on the board. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were trying to steady the ship but the former offered a simple chance to Mitchell Marsh in the eighth over off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood. However, the all-rounder couldn’t hold onto the catch, giving Kohli a lifeline.
MITCHELL MARSH DROPS KOHLI! pic.twitter.com/VTX9L2ZMHq
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 8, 2023
Kohli capitalised on the opportunity handed to him to bat on as he managed to string a classy 165-run partnership alongside KL Rahul (97* off 115 balls) to take India near a crucial victory. The Delhi batter was eventually dismissed for a well-compiled 85 off 116 balls. However, the match was already out of Australia’s grasp. Hardik Pandya and Rahul took the ‘Men in Blue’ home with 52 deliveries to spare and six wickets in hand. If Marsh had taken Kohli’s catch when he was trying to find his feet in the innings, things could have ended differently.
Indian fans understood the importance of the drop and the ones at the ground, celebrated the moment, while others expressed their euphoria on social media. Giving a second chance to someone of the calibre of Kohli in a run-chase isn’t ideal and Australia went on to rue the miss.
After a dominating bowling, Team India thumped Australia led by Virat Kohli and KL Rahul’s batting heroics
Earlier in the day, in the ODI World Cup 2023 encounter, the Australian batters struggled on their way to being bowled out for 199 on a dryish wicket that favoured the spinners. David Warner (41) and Steve Smith (46) formed a 69-run partnership while Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Starc were dismissed in their 20s. The other Aussie batters couldn’t adjust to the sluggish surface as the five-time champions were bowled out for 199 in the 50th over.
Ravindra Jadeja starred with the ball as he picked up a three-for. All six Indian bowlers that bowled in the match picked up at least one wicket. This win will give India a lot of momentum as they take on Afghanistan on Wednesday before the mega clash against Pakistan on October 14.