In the Cricket World Cup 2023, India’s opening match against Australia witnessed a surprising turn of events as three top-order batsmen, namely Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer, were dismissed without scoring a single run. This unexpected early collapse left India facing the challenge of chasing Australia’s 200-run target.
However, amidst this adversity, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli emerged as the heroes of the match, showcasing exceptional batting skills that eventually led India to victory. In a post-match conversation with Kohli, Rahul openly acknowledged the unprecedented nature of India’s early wicket loss.
The situation forced Rahul and Kohli to adopt a cautious approach, resembling a Test match mentality. They aimed to neutralize the initial threat posed by the Australian bowlers and patiently awaited opportunities to accumulate runs.
Their primary focus was on taking quick singles and twos rather than hitting boundaries. Although this strategy proved effective, Rahul confessed to feeling quite fatigued after the intense match.
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They both got #TeamIndia the first win of #CWC23 💪
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 9, 2023
As the bandwagon moves to Delhi, here's @imVkohli & @klrahul dissecting their match-winning partnership against Australia 👌
P.S. The local lad is bracing himself for his homecoming 🏟️
Watch the full interview 🎥 👇… pic.twitter.com/HSXYovY43T
KL Rahul elaborated on their approach, saying, “I won’t deny feeling tired. After building a partnership of 50-70 runs, our conversation revolved around conserving energy and avoiding unnecessary runs. However, once we found gaps in the field, our natural instincts took over, and we started running between the wickets. It was gratifying to begin the World Cup with a victory.”
Rahul also expressed his surprise at the rapid succession of wickets early in India’s innings. He particularly highlighted Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal, as he had expected him to stay at the crease for a longer duration.
“I never anticipated such a scenario. While it’s common to lose a couple of wickets when the ball is moving, it typically takes a few more overs, around four or five, not just 1.5 or two overs. I had barely come out of the shower when Ishan got out. I hurriedly prepared myself, expecting to bat after Rohit, but to my astonishment, Shreyas also fell early,” he added.
For Kohli, the standout aspect of his partnership with Rahul was their composure in rotating the strike and their readiness to accumulate runs through well-placed shots rather than taking undue risks.
Kohli explained, “I approached the first ten overs as if it were a Test match situation, given my experience as an opener. We’ve encountered situations where the ball behaves unpredictably. Hence, I decided to adopt a more conservative approach to disrupt Australia’s momentum. We were content with nudging the ball into gaps but didn’t shy away from capitalizing on scoring opportunities when they presented themselves.”
However, Team India’s remarkable comeback in the Cricket World Cup opener against Australia was shaped by Rahul and Kohli’s strategic and resilient partnership, demonstrating their ability to adapt to challenging circumstances and steer the team towards victory.
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