Virat Kohli stepped up once again against Australia, playing a crucial hand in India’s victory in their World Cup 2023 opening match in Chennai.
On a dry, bunsen burner pitch at the Chepauk, after India were reduced to 2/3 in the first two overs, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul put on a terrific partnership of 165 runs to help the side reach near the target of 200 runs. Kohli got out for 85, while KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 87 as India opened their account in the tournament.
“You are a champ”: Bhawana posts Insta story for brother Virat Kohli
As the entire country celebrated the win, and Virat Kohli’s special innings – though a bitter feeling lingered of Kohli getting out just 15 runs short of what would have been his 48th ODI century – Virat’s sister, Bhawana Kohli Dhingra, penned an emotional 4-worded message on Instagram for her brother, who is the pride of the country.
As Virat Kohli got out after scoring 85 runs, his sister Bhawana posted an Insta story with the caption “You are a champ.”
Meanwhile, KL Rahul, who had walked in to bat at number 5 with the score reading 2/3, revealed what Kohli had told him when he joined the senior batsman in the middle.
Rahul revealed that Kohli told him to bat like they do in a Test match as the pitch was helping the bowlers and there wasn’t any real pressure of the required run-rate. He reckoned they needed to play out the new ball first as the Aussie pacers were bowling well.
“Virat said there’s big help in the wicket, and [we] just have to play proper shots and play like it’s Test cricket for some time and see where it goes,” Rahul said. “That was mostly the plan, and happy that we could do the job for the team.”
India will next face Afghanistan in Delhi, which is Kohli’s home ground where he’s set to receive a massive reception.
