Bumrah delivers to Mitchell Marsh, and he’s caught by Kohli! Mitchell Marsh departs early, thanks to a fine catch by Kohli at slip. Bumrah bowled a beautifully pitched short-of-length delivery with extra bounce just outside the off-stump.
Mitchell Marsh tentatively poked at it, resulting in a straightforward outside-edge that veered towards Kohli’s left. Kohli dived acrobatically and clutched the ball with both hands, tumbling in the process. It’s a delivery you’d expect to see in a Test match, and it’s yielded a crucial wicket. Bumrah is visibly excited, as are the Indian team and the enthusiastic crowd.
Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, won the toss and opted to bat first at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as both his team and the hosts, India, kickstart their 2023 World Cup campaigns. The Chepauk, a venue steeped in the history of classic encounters, is poised to script a fresh chapter in the enduring rivalry between India and Australia. If the weather permits, we could be in for an exhilarating contest that lives up to its Sunday blockbuster billing.
In terms of pre-match expectations, neither team holds the clear favorite tag. While India did secure victories against a weakened Australian squad in the first two matches of the three-game ODI series just ten days ago, the return of Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc for the dead-rubber altered the complexion of the Australian side entirely. Nevertheless, India may hold a slight edge, if at all.
Virat Kohli with a stunning catch! Easily one of the best grabs of the tournament so far. 🌟#Cricket #ViratKohli #KingKohli #INDvsAUS #INDvAUS https://t.co/WTcEdjmlhP
— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) October 8, 2023
boom boom ……🔥#WorldCup2023 #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/Wg9ZrYpeds
— 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭~𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬♡💞 (@BB_TRUE_FAN) October 8, 2023
With their key players returning from injuries, the Men in Blue have once again asserted themselves as a formidable force, clinching the Asia Cup and reaffirming their supremacy just before the World Cup. Jasprit Bumrah is generating prodigious swing with the new ball, KL Rahul has found his form in the middle order, Shreyas Iyer marked his comeback with a century, and Kuldeep Yadav is riding high on newfound confidence.
