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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

Michael Jones,Sonia Twigg
Sunday 08 October 2023 18:23 BST
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Virat Kohli joins team India ahead of their cricket World Cup match 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:

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India 82-3 (21) Rahul 40, Kohli 39, Starc 1-16 (6) need 118 runs to win

Starc has not looked as menacing with the older ball, and India have kept the scoreboard ticking along.

Just the two from that over from Starc, but the runs required is creeping downwards.

Sonia Twigg8 October 2023 15:38
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India 79-3 (20) Rahul 39, Kohli 38, Zampa 0-20 (2) need 120 runs to win

After 20 overs, India have slowly trickled towards their current total, but crucially they have not lost more wickets after sliding to 2 for 3 in the first few overs. But they have depth and these two are quality.

Kohli survived a drop and both him and Rahul are closing in on half centuries.

Sonia Twigg8 October 2023 15:34
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India 73-3 (19) Rahul 34, Kohli 36, Starc 1-14 (5) need 127 runs to win

The India batters are just starting to look comfortable, they are using the width on offer to go for shots and have a partnership of over 70 now.

Although there are not a lot of boundaries on offer, Rahul and Kohli have continued to rotate the strike, scoring singles at ease.

Sonia Twigg8 October 2023 15:30
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India 69-3 (18), Rahul 32, Kohli 34, Zampa 0-13 (1) need 131 runs to win

Cummins has thrown the ball to Zampa, freshly sporting a graze on his nose after swimming into the wall of the pool at the hotel - after Carey’s slip in Karachi the Aussies don’t have the best of luck with hotel pools.

India look comfortable and Rahul has cut the ball away for four as this partnership continues to build for the home side after a disastrous start.

Rahul has another boundary with the width on offer, using the pace of Zampa to guide the ball to the boundary. Not enough turn for the Aussie bowler.

Three successive fours and the pressure has been released!

Sonia Twigg8 October 2023 15:25
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India 56-3 (17) Rahul 20, Kohli 33, Starc 1-10 (4) need 144 runs to win

Starc is back on after Green went for two successive boundaries at the end of his over, but it will be a different task for the bowler, who is most lethal when the ball is moving at the start of the innings.

It hasn’t caused the problems it did at the start but he is still a skilled bowler with pace.

Sonia Twigg8 October 2023 15:19
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India 52-3 (16) Rahul 18, Kohli 31, Maxwell 0-9 (4) need 148 runs to win.

The two fours off the last ball of the over have helped India bring up the 50 in Maxwell’s over following it.

Just three from the over but it’s a good 50 partnership from this pair who came to the crease with India two for three.

Sonia Twigg8 October 2023 15:15
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India 49-3 (15), Rahul 15, Kohli 31, Green 0-11 (2) need 151 runs to win

India have continued to knock the ball around for singles, but had to wait until the fifth ball of Green’s over to find the boundary!

A lovely shot from Kohli, and there haven’t been many boundaries but every one will count move India slowly towards the total.

Sonia Twigg8 October 2023 15:09
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India 40-3 (14) Rahul 15, Kohli 22, Maxwell 0-5 (3) need 159 runs to win

Whenever India have found the gap it seems to go to the man in the deep, three from the over but there is still a long way to go in this game.

Sonia Twigg8 October 2023 15:04
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India 38-3, Rahul 14, Kohli 21, Green 0-3 (1) need 162 runs to win

A change of bowling to Cameron Green, but there is no marked chase in terms of the runs or the pace of the game.

Three singles off the first 3 balls and that was it from the over.

Sonia Twigg8 October 2023 15:01
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India 34-3 (12) Rahul 13, Kohli 19, Maxwell 0-3 (2) need 165 runs to win

Maxwell went for just one run in his first over and will be looking for something similar here.

Rahul has tried to open the face and push the ball into the gap but the field placements were good and there were just two runs from the 12th over.

Sonia Twigg8 October 2023 14:56

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