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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Your support makes all the difference.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:
Australia 123-5 (31), Maxwell 6, Green 0, Bumrah 1-15 (5)
Jasprit Bumrah, arguably India’s best bowler, is brought back into the attack as Rohit Sharma senses the opportune moment to nip out a couple more wickets.
Glenn Maxwell defends the first two deliveries then ducks underneath a sharp bouncer which gets signalled wide. The Indian quick tries to rough Maxwell up again and gives up another wide before Maxwell misses out on a full toss.
The last delivery brings two to get Maxwell moving again. Four from the over.
Australia 119-5 (30), Maxwell 4, Green 0, Jadeja 3-18 (6)
That is an exceptional over from Ravindra Jadeja. Two wickets from it and Australia are in a whole heap of trouble. One more wicket and India are into the Australian bowlers.
Wicket! Alex Carey lbw Ravindra Jadeja 0 (2), Australia 119-5 (29.4)
... And is out on the second!
Alex Carey plays all around the ball as he looks to work it into the legside. It rattles into his pads and the umpire raises his finger for lbw.
Australia’s hole gets a little deeper. Jadeja is on fire.
Australia 119-4 (29.3), Maxwell 4, Carey 0, Jadeja 2-18 (5.3)
Consistent wickets falling mean that Australia haven’t managed to get a hold of this innings and turn the screw on the Indians. They need a big partnership but the spinners are keeping things incredibly tight.
Alex Carey is the new batter and Rohit Sharma sticks a short fine leg in immediately. He defends the first ball...
Wicket! Marnus Labuschagne ct KL Rahul b Ravindra Jadeja 27 (41), Australia 119-4 (29.2)
Another one! Marnus Labuschagne has to go now after trying to sweep Ravindra Jadeja out of the ground. A thin edge clips the bat of the Australian number four and KL Rahul takes a superb, sharp catch behind the stumps.
The Aussies are in real trouble now.
Australia 118-3 (29), Maxwell 3, Labuschagne 27, Kuldeep 1-27 (7)
From this point if Australia score at 6 runs-per-over they’ll only manage a total of 244. You don’t think that would be enough for them to defend.
Kuldeep continues and so does the Australian accummulation. Four singles and a two come from the over. That’s the minimum six runs that the Aussies require.
Australia 112-3 (28), Maxwell 1, Labuschagne 23, Jadeja 1-17 (5)
Glenn Maxwell is the new batter and he could change the outlook of this innings if he gets in. Maxwell scores quickly and could be a crucial counter-attacking cog for the Australians.
He’s off the mark immediately before Labuschagne takes a single. A wicket and two runs from the over.
Wicket! Steve Smith b. Ravindra Jadeja 46 (71), Australia 110-3 (27.1)
What a ripper!
Jadeja comes round the wicket to Steve Smith and angles the ball into the right hander. Smith plays down the correct line but the ball grips and spins past his outside edge dislodging the off stump bail and sending Smith back to the pavilion.
Australia 110-2 (27), Smith 46, Labuschagne 22, Jadeja 0-15 (4)
The atmosphere is bouncing around the ground with India in control of this innings. There aren’t many Australian’s in the crowd, understandably, and the dancing and partying will be a joy for the Indian fielders to see.
Australia 110-2 (27), Smith 46, Labuschagne 22, Kuldeep 1-21 (6)
Here comes Kuldeep Yadav.
Australia will need to start thinking about increasing the run-rate but it’s really difficult to get the spinners away. Marnus Labuschagne misses out on a late cut and seems deep in thought about how to handle the left-arm leg spinner.
That’s inventive. Labuschagne decides to reverse sweep Kuldeep but some good fielding from Ashwin at short third man keeps it down to one.
Smith drops to one knee and swivels the ball into the legside for one more before Labuschagne ramps Kuldeep fine for two. The Aussies are starting to open up a bit now.
India’s fielding has been superb today and Hardik continues the trend with a one-handed stop to deny Labuschagne a boundary through cover.
Smith ends the over with one, six from it.
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