Sachin Tendulkar doesn't attribute Australia's six-wicket loss to India in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 opener at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium solely to that dropped catch when Virat Kohli was at 12. He felt Australia’s strategic decisions and team dynamics were responsible for the loss.

After getting lifeline from Mitchell Marsh, Kohli went to hammer stunning 85 runs and added match-winning 165 runs with KL Rahul (97*) to set up an enthralling 6-wicket win for the Men in Blue on Friday, October 8 in their CWC 2023 opener in Chennai.

Sharing his views on Australia’s defeat, 2011 World Cup winner Tendulkar believes that the turning point was the toss itself, where Australian captain Pat Cummins chose to bat first.

The legendary batter also pointed out that Australia badly felt the absence of their left-arm spinner, Ashton Agar, who missed the World Cup due to calf injury. He also lauded Kohli and Rahul’s brilliant batting while congratulating Team India for the winning start of the CWC 2023.

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Sachin Tendulkar wrote on X: “I was surprised to see Australia bat first after winning the toss. Commendable performance by the Indian bowlers to restrict them to 199. Australia started well but I felt they missed a left-arm spinner on this surface.”

He added, “The partnership between Virat and Rahul sealed the game for us. They very smartly took their time and were able to execute some superb shots. The ball surely came onto the bat much better in the second half of the game. Congratulations to Team India on a good start.”

India will next play Afghanistan on October 11 in Delhi.