I
ndia made the proper begin to their Cricket World Cup marketing campaign as they survived a top-order collapse to ease to a six-wicket win over Australia .
Virat Kohli (85) and KL Rahul (97 not out) shone for the hosts, as India ultimately cruised to the goal of 200 with 52 balls remaining in Chennai.
Australia struggled to ever actually get going as they batted first, David Warner and Steve Smith each making scores within the 40s however failing to go on and make the large scores they wanted.
Ravindra Jadeja took the wickets of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne (27) to depart India in a powerful place. Jadeja then dismissed Alex Carey lbw earlier than Jasprit Bumrah took the wicket of Mitchell Marsh for a duck and skipper Pat Cummins.
India stuttered in response when openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan had been each out for nought throughout a dream begin for Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who claimed the dismissals.
But Kohli and Rahul steadied the ship after Shreyas Iyer additionally went for a duck, leaving India three wickets down with simply two runs on the board, because the pair started knocking off the runs, hitting 16 boundaries between them. It may have been a really completely different story although, had Mitch Marsh held on to a catch after Kohli prime edged a bouncer from Hazlewood.
Labuschagne lastly compelled one other error out of Kohli, who was caught by Hazlewood for 85 off 116 balls, however the harm had been carried out with a partnership of 165 and India’s victory develop into a matter of if not when.
Hardik Pandya got here in and managed 11 not out, with Rahul working out of time to succeed in his century as India made a early assertion of their bid to develop into world champions once more.
Additional reporting by PA Sport.
