Team India registered a comprehensive six-wicket victory over Australia in their opening World Cup 2023 match at Chepauk on Sunday (October 8).
Chasing 200 to win, the Men in Blue found themselves in deep trouble at 2/3 after two overs. However, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul absorbed the pressure and added 165 runs for the fourth wicket to put India in driver’s seat.
While Kohli fell after scoring 85 off 116 balls, Rahul stayed unbeaten on 97 off 115 balls to take India home with 8.4 overs to spare.
A day after the game, Kohli and Rahul interacted with each other for bcci.tv and reflected on their match-winning partnership after a terrible start.
"It really helped both of us play in a more conventional way. Those tough situations obviously helped us to eradicate the errors and keep rotating the strike as well," Kohli told Rahul.
"The highlight of our partnership was, obviously because of the low total, how content we were to knock the ball around. (We were) not necessarily looking at the number of balls we had played or the amount of runs we had got."
"Just fighting through the physical challenges of what we had experienced in the (Sunday) afternoon, coming into the evening, then the pressure obviously makes you feel even more tense, and you start getting more fatigued than you are."
"The team obviously feels great after a win like that. Hopefully, we can build on this and go a long way in this tournament."
On the other hand, Rahul said he was taken aback by the quick fall of wickets as it barely allowed him to settle down in the dressing room after 50 overs of wicketkeeping.
"I never expected it. You do lose a couple of quick wickets when the bowler is doing something, but not like that. It takes four-five overs; doesn't happen in 1.5 overs."
"I had a shower and just came out and sat, and then Ishan (Kishan) got out. I had to rush back in, get taped and wear my pads before Rohit (Sharma) got out."
"I thought I would get at least two overs; Shreyas (Iyer) will bat a little bit. But he got out, I don't even know when, as I was busy padding up, and then, I rushed out."
When Kohli asked Rahul about his game plan, the latter replied: "My game plan was to play the first ten overs like I play Test cricket. I do open the batting (in Tests), and we have played in situations where the ball does a bit. I just told myself that I will probably be a little bit conservative, just try to kill the momentum that Australia had. They were on a high."
"You (Kohli) were content with knocking it around, but you always kept showing that intent. If they pitch it up or get off the radar, you will punish them. I think they could sense that as well, and we got a couple of boundaries that way."
India’s next World Cup match is scheduled against Afghanistan in Delhi on Wednesday (October 11). The Arun Jaitely Stadium happens to be a home ground for Kohli and he also has a pavilion name after him at the venue.
Virat Kohli admitted that it's a special feeling to be back at the stadium where it all started.
"Of course, for me, that's the stadium where I have grown up playing my cricket - Age-group cricket, Ranji Trophy and then played for India as well. The memory is always fresh in your mind. When you go back into those moments, you still feel it because that is where everything started. That is where the selectors saw you for the first time, and you got an opportunity.
"So, it's always special to go back and play at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. We used to practice at the B grounds, and the Ranji teams practised on the main ground. So, very special place, very special memories. It's a bit awkward for me to still be playing, and in front of a pavilion named after me. Honestly, I don't like to talk about it a lot, but it's a great honour that I never felt would happen in my career, and I just feel grateful when I go back and see all the things that are present now and from where I started," he concluded.
