India vs Australia Highlights, World Cup 2023: Kohli, KL Rahul power IND to six wickets win

India vs Australia Live Score, World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Suryakumar Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Shubman Gill

India vs Australia Live Score, World Cup 2023: India had absolutely steamrolled Australia in the first two ODIs of the three-match series played between the two sides before this World Cup began. Australia looked down and out and a first ever wash-out for India against the five-time world champions in ODIs was the widely expected result. But, Australia being Australia, they compiled a mammoth 352/7 for India to chase and the hosts couldn't do it.

India vs Australia Live Score, World Cup 2023: Ravichandran Ashwin and Chepauk go back a long way. Who can forget his association with Chennai Super Kings at this very venue and THAT first-ball wicket to dismiss Chris Gayle in IPL 2011? Ashwin has always loved played in Chennai but perhaps there is no bigger Chepauk match for the veteran India off-spinner than today. About 15 days ago, Ashwin arguably delivered the ball of his career when he shattered Marnus Labuschagne's middle stump. That, and his three-wicket haul drafted him into the squad at a replacement for Axar Patel… and the rest is history. Today, as Ashwin plays his third World Cup, he will be the man in focus for India on a surface that has traditionally assisted spinners. From almost guaranteed to not play the World Cup to finally being part of India's WC opener, Ashwin can make it sweeter with a commendable show today.

India vs Australia Live Score, World Cup 2023: Ishan Kishan has a decent record as an opener in ODIs. With 448 runs at an average of 74, he is easily the best candidate to open along with Rohit Sharma, but here's something Australia would have in mind. Ishan, despite the promise he has shown lately in the middle order, does appear slightly susceptible against the moving new ball. And with Mitchell Starc ad Josh Hazlewood starting proceedings for Australia, it could be quite the test for the Indian youngster.

Former Australia captain said that while India's bench-strength should be lauded, he is not sure whether Ishan can have the same impact as Shubman Gill, whose dengue diagnosis will rule him out of today’s contest. Finch says that if he was the captain, he would waste no time in bringing Starc and Hazlewood against Ishan first up and be confident of an early blow. Here's what he had to say.

The rivalry between India and Australia, dating back to the 1980s, has been a captivating story. India's cricketing history witnessed its zenith when they clinched the World Cup, and Australia soon followed suit with their own World Cup victories. The 1990s featured one-sided contests, marked by Sachin Tendulkar's emergence as a global cricketing sensation, even though India struggled to match the Aussies.

Tendulkar's love affair with Australia began in 1992, highlighted by two centuries - in Sydney and Perth. The rivalry intensified in 1998 during the Sharjah classics but despite Sachin's brilliance, Australia maintained their upper hand, even winning the 2003 World Cup final. India had to wait eight years for their revenge when they ended Australia's World Cup winning run in Ahmedabad and sent them packing in the quarterfinals of 2011 edition. The 2010s ushered in more evenly-matched competitions, with Australia defeating India in the 2015 World Cup semifinal, but India's historic Test series win in 2018 and again in 2020 turned the tables. Most recently, Australia won the ICC World Test Championship final, yet today, India has a chance to even the score.

India vs Australia Live Score, World Cup 2023: The recent pattern suggests that wherever the Indian cricket team travels, rain tends to follow. During the Asia Cup, rain was a frequent visitor, and even in Mohali, where the first ODI between India and Australia took place last month, the sultry, hot conditions gave way to refreshing showers. Indore had a similar experience as rain led to a reduction in overs, and the warm-up games involving India... well, the lesser spoken, the better.

As the team arrived in Chennai, a familiar situation unfolded. Thursday and Friday were clear, but around 6 PM on Saturday, dark clouds gathered over the city, resulting in thunderstorms. Fortunately, the Sunday forecast shows only a 10 percent chance of rain, but Chennai's weather has a reputation for its unpredictability. We've witnessed no rain when 90 percent was expected, and vice versa. Nonetheless, let's hope the rain gods stay away for India's World Cup opener.

India vs Australia Live Score, World Cup 2023: The World Cup 2023 may have officially begun Thursday, but today is when the tournament finally comes to life. The lukewarm reception and the empty stands will finally make way for packed stadium and a level of excitement never before experienced, as Team India finally start their road to the World Cup trophy today against the most successful WC team of all time, Australia. This Australia team may not be the dominating force of the late 1990s or the early 2000s, but is pretty formidable in itself. They have had the wood over Team India in the previous 50-over World Cup matches, but when it comes to playing on home surface, there are few teams as ruthless as Team India. Under Rohit Sharma and with a plethora of bonafide stars and math-winners returning, the Men in Blue appear unstoppable.

All that, however, is easier said than done. India have waited 10 years for an ICC trophy and the opportunity doesn't get bigger and better than this. Nine matches – and hopefully two more – stand between India and the World Cup, the first of which takes place today in Chennai in a match that promises to get the adrenaline rushing among fans. Sit back, relax. We are just getting started!