AUSTRALIA was convincingly defeated by India in either sides’ opening match at the 2023 ICC World Cup on Sunday night, with the latter emerging victorious to the tune of six wickets.

The Aussies fell victim to the conditions at times, as India chased down their sub-200 total with ease, surpassing it with over eight overs in hand to start the World Cup in ideal fashion in front of a vocal crowd in Chennai.

Australia won the toss and opted to bat first, but got off to a slow start after Mitch Marsh edged one through to first slip to head back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Fellow opener David Warner and Steve Smith put on a 50-run partnership to steady things for the Aussies, but neither looked truly comfortable at the crease as things began to unravel for Australia.

Although he played some strong shots throughout his knock, Warner was sent packing after being caught and bowled by Kuldeep Yadav in an excellent display of reflexes, while Smith followed shortly after, bowled by Ravindra Jadeja. The Australian star looked back at the crease with a wry smile on his face, bemused by the turn the pitch was providing, after the ball spun back past his outside edge and hit the top of off-stump.

Marnus Labuschagne got off to a reasonable start, but was caught behind after top edging a sweep shot, and burnt a review in the process, in what was the beginning of the end for Australia. Although the tail-enders attempted to deliver some power-hitting and get the total up, the Aussies were all-out for 199 and needed some excellent bowling to defend that total.

It was the perfect start from Australia’s bowling attack, as Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc combined to rip through India’s top order and have the hosts struggling at 3/2. However, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul formed a match-winning partnership at the crease, making it look effortless as the pair chased down Australia’s score.

Although India had plenty of success with its spin bowlers during the first innings, the conditions got much dewier as the match went on, and Australia’s attack in Adam Zampa (who was reportedly underdone coming in) and Glenn Maxwell struggled as the ball began to skid and give the batsmen a better look.

Although Kohli fell for 85 eventually, his impact on the match was undeniable, leaving Australia and Marsh wondering what could have been, after he dropped the star batsman’s skied shot on just 11.

Rahul was immense as well, posting 97 not out from 115 deliveries in a towering display. Fittingly, the batsman also put the finishing touches on the match by punishing Pat Cummins‘ full-length delivery outside off stump for six to finish the impressive run chase.

Jadeja was the star with ball in hand for India, snagging three wickets as he brought the Aussies undone with a terrific amount of turn on his deliveries, while Jasprit Bumrah (2/35) and Yadav (2/42) also had an impact.

The question for Australia now will be how to address the lack of front-line spin options within the squad, after the late tournament withdrawal from Ashton Agar leaves the team with just Zampa in this regard.