India v Australia LIVE: Cricket World Cup result and reaction as India win by six wickets
India look to kickstart their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign against Australia
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India are under pressure from the weight of fans, media and all corners of the host nation when they get their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign up and running against Australia today.
As the host nation and the No 1 ranked side in the world, the expectation has rarely been higher for a nation to deliver, especially in front of a home crowd. After England were hammered by New Zealand in the tournament opener in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, both India and Australia will be looking to get their campaign off to a winning start.
India have not won a World Cup since 2011, and even Sachin Tendulkar spoke during the tournament opener on Wednesday about how sometimes the team have to remember that hundreds of millions are behind them rather than sitting on their shoulders. Australia lost the pre-tournament series in India against Rohit Sharma’s side, but as the England defeat to New Zealand has shown, the bilateral series results can have little effect on the outcome of a World Cup clash. India will also be hoping their side is up to full fitness.
Follow all the latest live coverage of today’s match in the live blog belowand get the latest match odds and tips here:
India 119-3 (29) Rahul 53, Kohli 60, Maxwell 0-12 (5) need 81 runs to win
Maxwell returns, he has bowled well in his earlier spell, tight lines and length, but the batters weren’t as in then.
The pair at the crease have not put a foot wrong, they have done the hard work and can now just play the ball into gaps.
Three runs from the over
India 114-3 (28) Rahul 50, Kohli 59, Cummins 0-25 (5) need 84 runs to win
That was a weird delivery from Cummins! It looked like he was looking for something special and that one has landed off the strip!
Three runs from the over and the fourth was so wide it was impressive Carey managed to get there, and it will be a no-ball.
First free-hit of the innings...and it’s a slower ball bouncer missed by Kohli, but that has been called a wide.
A second free-hit...and it’s gone for four to midwicket with two bounces off the rope, his fourth four of the innings.
Rahul 50! India 106-3
Just two overs after Kohli, Rahul has his half century as well, with a drive off Cummins.
His 50 came from 72 balls, and together this partnership has done wonders.
India 104-3 (27) Rahul 49, Kohli 53, Zampa 0-31 (5) need 95 runs to win
The required total has just moved under 100 here and India are well and truly on top after their disastrous start when they were 2 for 3.
And that’s the 100-run partnership.
India 100-3 (26) Rahul 47, Kohli 50, Cummins 0-16 (4) need 100 runs to win
Just the three from the over but Kohli has his half century, and Rahul is just three runs away.
Kohli 50 (75)! India 100-3
Cummins brings himself on to try and squeeze out what is turning into a much-needed wicket as it’s all looking a bit easy for India at the moment.
Kohli brings up his half century, off 75 balls, he was lucky to survive a drop early on in his innings but has yet again dragged India out of trouble and into a comfortable position.
It is his 67th 50 in the format.
India 97-3 (25) Rahul 46, Kohli 48, Zampa 0-28 (4) need103 runs to win
Zampa’s over was slightly more expensive than the previous ones, going for five runs, and halfway through the innings India are almost halfway towards their required total of 200.
India 92-3 (24) Rahul 44, Kohli 45, Hazlewood 2-18 (6) need 108 runs to win
Hazlewood continues and bowls very tight, as he is known to do, just two runs from that over.
India 90-3, Rahul 43, Kohli 44, Zampa 0-23 (3) need 110 runs to win
Again just the singles, but neither look to be having any particular difficulty against the Australian attack.
India 87-3 (22), Rahul 42, Kohli 42, Hazlewood 2-17 (5) need 113 runs to win
The running between the wickets has been exceptional, so quick and always looking for that one extra run.
Hazlewood, who took two wickets earlier has been brought on, probably with an intent to find another and break this partnership which is threatening to shift momentum in favour of India.
There might be just a hint of reverse swing under the lights.
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