In a game that started out as if it was a replay of the 2019 Semi-final between India and New Zealand, India had lost their first 3 wickets within the first two overs of the innings after only scoring 2 runs with all three batsmen being dismissed for a duck which even broke a record.
On a quite dry pitch which looked to be comfortable for spinners, Australia started off well in spite of losing an early wicket and had put a good amount of runs on the board until the India spinners hit them with something, the Australians could not cope up with.
It clearly was Jadeja’s day with the bowl as he took 3 crucial wickets including those of Labuschagne and Smith for India just when they needed it. He was further accompanied by Kuldeep Yadav and Ashwin who stayed very economical and took 2 wickets and 1 wicket respectively. It was this spell by the Indian spinners which not only took wickets but also put a hurdle on the run-scoring ability of the Aussies as they struggled to score 199/10 somehow.
After bowling well, everyone thought it would be an easy target for India to chase but the Australians had other plans as Starc and Hazelwood breathed fire and dismissed 3 batsmen from the top 4 for record-breaking ducks. Australians had another chance to sweep the game off of India’s feet with Kohli’s wicket, however, they gave him a lifeline after Marsh dropped him early on and boy, was it a game-changing moment. Kohli and KL Rahul then went on to have a 165-run partnership to bring back the game back in India’s control.
Somehow, it was only fitting that KL Rahul finish this rollercoaster of a match with a six over extra cover with which even he was surprised because he probably wanted it to be a four so hit could then hit a for a six and complete a well-deserved century.
KL Rahul was then adjudged as the Man of the Match for his unbeaten 97 runs and when asked about walking out when India was 2/3 in the post-match ceremony, he said, “Quite honestly not a lot of conversation, I thought I’d get a good shower and get a break. I was just trying to get my breath back. Virat said there’s a bit in the wicket, so play like Test cricket for a while. There was a bit of help for the pacers with the new ball, and then the spinners also. In the last 15-20 overs, dew played a part and that helped quite a bit. The ball also skidded on better.
However, it was a bit two-paced, it wasn’t the easiest of wickets to bat on and it wasn’t flat as well. It was a good cricket wicket, bit for the batters and the bowlers. That’s what you get in the south of India, especially Chennai. (On the last six) I hit it too well, I just calculated how to get to a 100 in the end. The only way for four and a six, but no qualms on not getting to that hundred.”
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