The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team had a victorious start to their ODI Cricket World Cup campaign, securing a six-wicket win against Australia in Chennai. However, the match had a tumultuous beginning, with India’s chase of Australia’s below-par 199 runs getting off to a shocking start. In the second over, India lost key wickets, including Rohit Sharma (0), Ishan Kishan (0), and Shreyas Iyer (0).

Yuvraj Singh, a former member of the Indian cricket teams that won the 2007 T20 Cricket World Cup and the 2011 ODI Cricket World Cup, expressed his disappointment with Shreyas Iyer’s performance in the No. 4 position.

“No 4 batsman has to absorb the pressure!! Need better thinking from @ShreyasIyer15 when the team is trying to rebuild their innings! Still don’t understand why @klrahul is not batting at no 4! After scoring a 100 against Pakistan! Dropping @imVkohli might cost Australia big time, don’t drop the king because he can take the game away?? Game on!! #IndiaVsAus #WorldCup2023,” Yuvraj Singh wrote on X.

No 4 batsman has to absorb the pressure !! Need better thinking from @ShreyasIyer15 when team is trying to rebuild their innings ! Still don’t understand why @klrahul is not batting at no 4 ! After scoring a 100 against Pakistan ! Dropping @imVkohli might cost australia big time…

— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) October 8, 2023

In the match, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul played pivotal roles, rescuing India from a dire situation where they were three wickets down with only two runs on the board. Kohli scored 85 runs, while Rahul remained unbeaten at 97, forging a crucial partnership of 165 runs. India comfortably achieved the target with 52 balls to spare.

Spinner Ravindra Jadeja was the standout bowler for India, taking 3 wickets for 28 runs to help dismiss Australia for 199 runs. Australia’s fast bowlers made an initial impact by dismissing Indian top-order batsmen, but Kohli and Rahul’s partnership turned the tide in India’s favor.

Australia captain Pat Cummins admitted that his team fell short by about 50 runs, and facing India’s spinners on the challenging wicket was a tough task. Despite commendable performances from David Warner and Steve Smith, Australia couldn’t build a substantial total.

In the end, Mitchell Starc’s late cameo added some respectability to Australia’s score, but it was India who emerged victorious in their opening match of the Cricket World Cup.

The competition promises more exciting cricketing action, and fans eagerly await the next thrilling encounters.