IND vs AUS: At the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the cricketing giants, India and Australia, locked horns in a riveting World Cup 2023 clash. The Indian spinners, with their impeccable performance, turned out to be the heroes of the match.
Ravindra Jadeja’s Mastery at Chennai’s Pitch:
Ravindra “Sir” Jadeja put on a splendid performance, weaving magic with the ball. He delivered a tight spell of 10 overs, conceding a meager 28 runs, which included two maiden overs. Jadeja’s magnificent bowling resulted in a haul of three vital Australian wickets.
The Kangaroo’s Spin Dilemma:
IND vs AUS: The Australian batsmen struggled to decode the spinning trio of Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravichandran Ashwin. The combined pressure from these three restricted the Australians to a total of just 199 runs. Amidst the spin web cast by the Indians, Steve Smith managed to resist with a top score of 46.
Shaky Australian Start and Hopeful Partnership:
Despite winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia’s start was anything but ideal. Mitchell Marsh, renowned for his aggressive batting style, departed without troubling the scorers. Jasprit Bumrah drew first blood, dismissing Marsh with Kohli securing the catch. This initial setback was followed by a promising partnership between Steve Smith and David Warner, contributing 69 runs. However, the aging ball and challenging conditions gradually throttled their scoring rate.
Subsequent Fall of Wickets:
IND vs AUS: Warner’s resistance ended at 41 runs off 52 deliveries, falling prey to a catch and bowl by Kuldeep Yadav. A 36-run partnership blossomed between Smith and Labuschagne, but post Smith’s dismissal, the Aussie lineup seemed to echo the sentiment, ‘after you’. Smith’s 46 off 71 stood out, while Labuschagne managed 27 from 41 balls. Maxwell, Carey, Green, and captain Cummins contributed paltry scores of 15, 0, 8, and 15 respectively.
Tail-end Resistance:
Towards the end, Mitchell Starc showed some grit, contributing 28 runs, including a couple of boundaries and a six. Zampa (6 not out) and Hazlewood (1) provided some support. For India, Jadeja’s trio of wickets was complemented by two wickets apiece for Yadav and Bumrah. Pandya, Siraj, and Ashwin each chipped in with a wicket.
IND vs AUS: The match at MA Chidambaram Stadium was a testament to the prowess of Indian spinners, skillfully exploiting the conditions and creating challenges for the Australian batting lineup. The Kangaroo batsmen might be reflecting on their approach against the spin, especially with India setting a competitive target of 200.
Image Credit – livehindustan
