ICC World Cup 2023: Kohli-Rahul bring up unbeaten century stand, revive India after early jolts

Virat Kohli-KL Rahul (Pic: AFP)

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul struck fifties to put India's chase back on track after they had lost their first three wickets for just two runs against Australia in a tense ICC World Cup 2023 duel on Sunday.

The duo put up an unbeaten century stand in Chepauk to thwart Australia's bowling in the 150th ODI meeting between the two teams.

Kohli, who was dropped on 12 by Mitchell Marsh off Josh Hazlewood, scored his 67th ODI half-century as a crowd of 32,531 cheered on. Later, Rahul reached his fifty in the 28th over as India went to 106-3 while chasing a victory target of 200.

Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc struck in the first over to send back Ishan Kishan for a duck after the left-hander slashed at a delivery to get caught at slip. Hazlewood then struck twice in one over to remove skipper Rohit Sharma lbw and then Shreyas Iyer caught at covers also for nought to silence the home crowd. Earlier Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets to help bowl out Australia for 199 in 49.3 overs.

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Earlier in the first inning, Ravindra Jadeja took 3 for 28 in 10 overs as the slowness of the surface and subtle variations used by the all-rounder became Australia's undoing. India, in the process, rolled over Australia for 199 in 49.3 overs. Ravichandran Ashwin (2/34 in 10 overs) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/42 in 10 overs) also played their parts to perfection.

But it was Jadeja's show all the way as he tilted the scale in India's favour with quick dismissals of an under-pressure Steve Smith (46 off 71 balls) and an unusually subdued Marnus Labuschagne (27 off 41 balls).

The Indian spin trio collectively bowled 101 dot balls to completely choke the run-flow. In all there were nearly 29 overs worth dot balls by Indian bowlers, phenomenal by any stretch of imagination.

(With agency inputs)