Team India started their Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign on a winning note as they registered a six-wicket win over Australia in Chennai on Sunday. Opting to bat first, Australia had their worst nightmare as their batting line-up could not cope with India’s strong spin attack. The visitors were bundled out for 199 with Ravindra Jadeja scalping three wickets. Later, the Rohit Sharma-led side chased down the target in 41.2 overs with Virat Kohli and KL Rahul playing the crucial knocks for the team.
However, Team India also suffered a major hitch in the chase as they trailed by three points with just two runs on the board. But Kohli and Rahul scored 85 and 97* runs respectively to guide India to victory. When asked about the atmosphere in the team after losing three quick wickets, all-rounder Jadeja stated that there was some panic in the Indian camp but they had faith in Kohli and Rahul.
“Obviously when you are three wickets down in just a few overs you panic a little bit. But we knew we had Virat and Rahul and they have been this for the team for a long time. So no one was there at that time too hyper or panicky. Luckily they played brilliantly and know the conditions very well,” Jadeja said at the post-match press conference.
Jadeja, who scalped three wickets against Australia, said the pitch at Chepauk felt like a “Test wicket” to him and he tried to bowl from stump to stump.
“When I started the first over, the ball stopped after falling a bit slowly. I thought it was midday, it was warm and the wicket was dry. I thought a stump line would be better. From here some balls would turning Some would go straight, so it won’t be easy for the batsman to line up,” Jadeja said.
“This was my plan that I would bowl to the stumps and luckily the ball turned to Smith a little more. So my plan was simple. I thought this was a test match bowling wicket. I shouldn’t experiment too much because everything happened in the wicket. So I tried to throw it from stump to stump,” he added.
Team India will now take on Afghanistan in their next ODI World Cup 2023 match in Delhi on Wednesday.
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