India began their 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup marketing campaign on a excessive with a six-wicket win over Australia. In a low-scoring match, the place Indian bowlers first dismissed Australia for 199, the Indian batters had a horrible begin. With the scoreboard studying simply 2, three batters – Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan – departed. Had it not been for a wonderful 165-run stand between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, issues wouldn’t have been so easy for India.(Cricket World Cup Points Table | Cricket World Cup – India’s Full Schedue)

India nice Sachin Tendulkar was mighty impressed by the Indians however was baffled by a choice of the Australian cricket workforce.

“I was surprised to see Australia bat first after winning the toss. Commendable performance by the Indian bowlers to restrict them to 199. Australia started well but I felt they missed a left-arm spinner on this surface. The partnership between Virat and Rahul sealed the game for us. They very smartly took their time and were able to execute some superb shots. The ball surely came onto the bat much better in the second half of the game. Congratulations to #TeamIndia on a good start. #INDvAUS,” Sachin Tendulkar wrote on X.

I used to be stunned to see Australia bat first after successful the toss. Commendable efficiency by the Indian bowlers to limit them to 199. Australia began nicely however I felt they missed a left-arm spinner on this floor. The partnership between Virat and Rahul sealed the sport for… pic.twitter.com/qUr21Vaqxb

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 8, 2023

Architect of India’s six-wicket win over Australia, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has a strong all-round sport and offers stability within the middle-order, stated bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.
Rahul scored an unbeaten 97 to steer India to a effective victory of their World Cup opener on Sunday.

Chasing 200, Rahul, batting at quantity 5, arrived on the crease within the third over with Australia placing within the opening two overs to depart India reeling at two for 3.

Rahul tailor-made a vital 165-run partnership with Virat Kohli (85) to carry India again into the chase.

“We always knew what Rahul brings to the team, the quality of a batter he is, especially in the middle order. We need someone, and he is that kind of a player who plays spin well, also the fast bowlers and the seamers,” stated Mhambrey throughout an interplay.

“So, in that sense, he gives you the stability and confidence. And, the way he has played in the past, we definitely trusted him, and it’s good to have him back.” After returning to the Indian workforce following an extended harm lay-off, Rahul has scored an unbeaten hundred in opposition to Pakistan within the Asia Cup and likewise made two fifties within the three-ODI sequence in opposition to Australia.

The spin trio of Ravindra Jadeja (3/28), Ravichandran Ashwin (1/34) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/42) shared six wickets as India restricted Australia to 199.

“Looking at the way they (Australia) approached the last few games, we realised that they went hard in the first ten overs. We knew with the ball being hard, it does come on to the wicket,” Mhambrey stated.

“The approach has been very simple. They went hard against the seamers and spinners.

“So, selecting early wickets was actually essential for us, and that made the distinction, as they misplaced (Mitchell) Marsh early. And that sort of tiled the batting, placing (Steven) Smith with (David) Warner. So, that they had a distinct set-up to go along with.” Mhambrey feels Indian spinners bring a lot of variety into the attack.

“That’s the fantastic thing about this sport. In a workforce mixture, you need selection. And for us, all our spinners provide totally different sorts of choices and varieties,” he said.

“All three of them have the flexibility, particularly somebody like Ash (R Ashwin) or (Ravindra) Jadeja. They are the sort of choices that you should use within the first powerplay and the center. Kuldeep (Yadav) can also be another choice that we will use.” Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep has been simply sensational in his last few outings, including the Asia Cup, and Mhambrey feels credit must be given to him for the amount of hard work that he has done in the past few years.

“Considering the best way he has bowled in the previous couple of years, he has performed sufficient cricket to know that, and he has received the expertise, undoubtedly. I’m very proud of the best way he has progressed. Credit ought to be given to Kuldeep for the truth that he has labored on it.

“Sometimes when we have these conversations, as a bowler, you gotta have the self-realisation as to what are the areas that I need to work on.

“We have been having that sort of dialog with him for fairly a very long time now. He has labored on sure issues and made some technical modifications, and you may see that in his bowling.” “In the previous couple of years, his pace has gone up, and his size and areas have been higher. So, I feel there are a whole lot of huge ticks for us.” India will face Afghanistan next on October 11 at New Delhi.

With PTI inputs