‘Not serious’: India exposes Australia in World Cup nightmare

Australia’s World Cup campaign has got off to a horror start with serious question marks hanging over the squad after the diabolical showing.

Australia’s World Cup has got off to the worst possible start after a horror middle-order collapse at the hands of India.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul steered the home nation to a six-wicket victory after their run-chase got off to a rocky start.

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Chasing only a modest 200-run target, India lost three wickets in the opening two overs to flip the match on its head.

But it was Kohli (85) and Rahul (97*) who steadied the ship and guided India home after combining for a 165-run partnership.

Things could have been vastly different if not for Mitch Marsh squandering a chance to send Kohli packing.

A straightforward chance hit the turf in the eighth over. Kohli’s mishit went straight to Marsh who couldn’t claim the catch with the Indian superstar given a life after only scoring 12 runs.

The key chance goes missing. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The loss leaves the Aussie squad with plenty of question marks hanging overhead after their middle order completely fell apart on a scuffed wicket.

Australia only crawled to the total of 199 thanks to a late cameo of 28 from Mitchell Starc after the top order couldn’t capitalise on strong starts.

Aside from David Warner (41) and Steve Smith (46) it was bleak reading looking over the Australian scorecard.

From 2/110, the Aussies crumbled to 7/140 as the middle order fell apart against the mighty Indian spin.

Ravindra Jadeja was the chief destroyer, taking 3/28 from his 10 overs with his three wickets coming in the span of 10 deliveries.

India's Hardik Pandya (R) bumps fists with Australia's Adam Zampa at the end. (Photo by R.Satish BABU / AFP)

The display leaves Australia exposed as the squad only has Adam Zampa as a recognised spinner, with part time spinners Glenn Maxwell, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head in the squad.

“Their spinners were tough work out there,” Australian captain Pat Cummins confessed in the post-match presentation.

After Australia’s innings Jadeja said the pitch was almost unreadable even for him, making it a nightmare for the batsmen.

Jadeja said after the innings he didn’t know which way the ball was going to spin and when or where it was going to hold.

The interviewer said: “If you didn’t know that, how are the batters supposed to know which way the ball is going?”

“Yeah exactly,” he replied with a smile. “The odd ball was turning, not every ball was turning, so I was mixing the pace.”

Australia would have fancied their chances after Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood combined to have India at 3/2 after the opening two overs.

It was happy faces for the Aussies early. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Starc struck first by claiming the outside edge of opener Ishan Kishan before Hazlewood claimed two wickets in his first over.

Skipper Rohit Sharma was sent packing after a ball thundered into his pads before Shreyas Iyer chipped a delivery to David Warner at cover.

It was the first time in ODI history that three of India‘s top four batters were dismissed for a duck.

From there however it was one-way traffic as India flipped the script and cruised home to claim the win.

Australia will next face South Africa in Lucknow on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 7.30m AEDT.

10.24pm — Australia imploding

Another one bites the dust.

Glenn Maxwell has struggled to get going, bowled for 15 off 25 off Kuldeep Yadav.

The pitch is a minefield and causing all sorts of issues for the Aussies.

And after dropping to 6/140, Cameron Green gave them a gimme, hitting Ashwin straight to Hardik Pandya at backward point to make it 7/140 and requiring the bowlers to give the Aussies something to bowl at.

9.52pm — Indian spinners tear Australia apart

Australia have gone from 2/110 to 5/119 in just over two overs as the Indian spinners apply the clamps.

Ravindra Jadeja has taken his second and third wickets of the day as Australia’s middle order collapses in difficult conditions at Chennai.

Jadeja had Marnus Labuschagne caught behind off a feather edge before trapping Alex Carey for a second ball duck as the hosts put their foot on the neck of the Aussies.

With Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Jadeja on fire and bowling as a unit, the bowlers have conceded 69 runs from 114 balls as well as taking four wickets between them.

It’s a difficult wicket to score freely on for the Aussies and before play began it was referred to as spinner’s paradise.

Which is the last thing Australia wanted to hear.

Australia’s squad has Adam Zampa as its only frontline spinner, while batting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will likely have to bowl plenty of overs this World Cup.

While Labuschagne and Smith are also able to bowl spin, they’re very much part-time at absolute best.

Pitch for India vs Australia match at Chepauk.
- Expected to be a turning one.
- Spinners likely to have the upper hand in this encounter.#INDvAUS#CWC23#BrandedFeatures#WorldCup2023#Chepaukpic.twitter.com/bEKtXlAhBZ

— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) October 8, 2023

What a horrible pitch. They're not serious #INDvAUS

— Abdullah (@HolaItsAbdullah) October 8, 2023

Batting 2nd on a turner. Doomed. I really don't understand what sort of terrible pitch this is?!! It's the start of the season fgs, how can you come up with this Day 4 pitch? #INDvAUS

— tanmay (@StanCric) October 8, 2023

9.41pm — ‘My goodness’: Smith bowled by beauty

It doesn’t get much better than that from Ravindra Jadeja.

The Indian spinner has bowled the perfect ball to dismiss Steve Smith with the ball biting into the wicket and turning to hit the top of the Aussie’s off-stump.

Smith had no choice but to go for 46 off 71 balls.

Peach of a delivery from Sir Jadeja 🔥

Smith’s reaction says it all 😍#CWC23 | #CricketWorldCup2023 | #Jadejapic.twitter.com/33eO0OoS1a

— â™” (@balltamperrerrr) October 8, 2023

Australia are now 3/110 off 27.1 overs, but the run rate might be a concern, batting at just four an over.

Even if the Aussies picked it up to eight an over, they’re looking at under 300, which just might be a winning target on what’s proven to be a tricky wicket at Chennai.

8.51pm — India finally break partnership

David Warner and Steve Smith had helped Australia to recover to 1/74 off 16.2 overs but Kuldeep Yadav has finally snared the second wicket.

While Warner wasn’t at his free flowing best on the dry wicket in Chepauk, he was undone by Yadav, as he spooned a catch straight back to the spinner to be dismissed for 41 off 52 balls.

It bring Marnus Labuschagne to the crease for Australia to join Steve Smith who is 33 off 41 balls.

7.41pm — Mitch Marsh gone for duck

India have claimed the first wicket of the evening with a brilliant slip catch from Virat Kohli.

David Warner hit the first four of the match in the second over of the match.

But Jasprit Bumrah has stuck in the third over with a top ball to Mitch Marsh.

It drew the edge and Kohli moved well to his left to snag the catch.

7.05pm — ‘We’ll bat’: Cummins win the toss

Pat Cummins has won the toss and Australia will bat first in the match.

“We’ll bat first, looks like a good wicket. Sun is out, good opportunity to bat. We are in a good spot, we’ve played a lot over the last month,” Cummins said.

Australia have left out Travis Head (“who’s on the couch in Adelaide”), Sean Abbott, Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis.

AUSTRALIAN XI: David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

INDIAN XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

6.50pm — Huge World Cup opener blow rocks India

Shubman Gill is a big out for India. Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images

India will enter the opening match of the World Cup without the World’s No. 2 ranked batsman Shubman Gill.

Gill has been in outstanding form in 2023, hitting 1230 runs at an average of 72.35, which includes a double hundred, five centuries and five fifties.

He’s the only batter in men’s 50 over cricket this year to have over 1000 runs.

But he’s been ruled out of the hosts’ tournament opener with the host broadcaster reporting that Gill had not travelled to the venue with the team.

Without Shubman Gill, India is not winning against Australia. Easy win for Australia 🇦🇺

— Asif (@Asif_K163) October 8, 2023

No Shubman Gill today ... India in trouble ? #INDvsAUS#CricketWorldCup2023

— UTD = Until The Death 🙎🏾👈🏾 (@tabodevil) October 8, 2023

Gill is out after testing positive for dengue fever.

With the star opener out, Ishan Kishan will likely open the batting with captain Rohit Sharma.

It’s expected a huge crowd will turn out for the match with fans calling it “the official opening of the World Cup”.

While Australia and India didn’t play at the ground in their recent three-match series, the sides did play during the three match series in March.

In that match, Australia were bowled out for 269, but Adam Zampa spun the visitors to victory despite a Virat Kohli 54.