Headache Aussie selectors can't ignore; gaping hole ruthlessly ...

Australia’s World Cup campaign has gotten off to a disappointing start.

Pat Cummins’s men suffered a six-wicket defeat in its World Cup opener against India, with KL Rahul and Virat Kohli guiding the hosts towards the 200-run target with 50 balls to spare.

In hot and humid conditions on Sunday, Australia was bowled out for 199 after India’s spinners wreaked havoc on a dry wicket at Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

India was reeling at 3-2 early in the run chase before Rahul (97 not out from 115 balls) and Kohli (85 from 116 balls) combined for a 165-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Australia will next face South Africa in Lucknow on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 7.30m AEDT.

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JADEJA IS STILL AUSTRALIA’S KRYPTONITE

Australia’s nemesis has returned.

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja terrorised the Australians during this year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in the subcontinent, claiming 22 wickets at 18.86 across the four Tests.

And he would have been licking his lips after peering at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium’s dry deck on Sunday afternoon. Before the toss, former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik posted an image of the scuffed surface on Twitter, predicting that Jadeja would “have a super day today”.

He was absolutely right.

Jadeja produced a genuinely unplayable delivery to remove the dangerous Steve Smith in the 28th over, turning the ball past his outside edge and toppling off stump. The Australian looked at the pitch in bemusement before shaking his head and trudging off.

It was the fifth time Jadeja had dismissed Smith in international cricket this year; no other bowler has achieved the feat more than twice. He’s on the verge of earning the dreaded ‘bunny’ moniker.

In Jadeja’s following over, Marnus Labuschagne attempted to sweep the left-armer but instead feathered a catch through to wicketkeeper KL Rahul. The Queenslander wasted a review before sheepishly marching back to the sheds.

It marked the eighth time Labuschagne had fallen victim to Jadeja at international level, while no other bowler has managed it on more than five occasions.

India's Ravindra Jadeja. Photo by R.Satish BABU / AFPSource: AFP

Most times dismissing Marnus Labuschagne in international cricket

8 — Ravindra Jadeja (IND)

5 — Mark Wood (ENG)

5 — Ravichandran Ashwin (IND)

5 — Shaheen Shah Afridi (PAK)

The match was in the balance before Jadeja’s magical spell of 3-3 from ten deliveries, which included the dismissal of Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey. He finished with 3-28 from ten overs, his best bowling figures in World Cups.

The 34-year-old was tailor-made for bowling on India’s turning wickets, and the Australians seemingly have no clue how to tame the talented tweaker.

“I play for the Chennai Super Kings, so I know the conditions here,” Jadeja said during the innings break.

“When I saw the wicket, I was hoping to get two or three wickets, and luckily I got three. Very happy with that.

“The odd ball was turning, not every ball was turning.”

CAREY’S POST-LORD’S NIGHTMARE CONTINUES

At what point do the national selectors need to have a serious discussion about Alex Carey?

The South Australian fell victim to Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja for a second-ball duck on Sunday, trapped on the pads and wisely electing not to call for a review. The left-hander prodded forward but missed a full delivery that turned past the inside edge and struck him on the front pad.

Carey has been Australia’s first-choice ODI wicketkeeper for more than four years, and he boasts a commendable career batting average of 32.98. In comparison, the legendary Adam Gilchrist averaged 35.89, while Brad Haddin averaged 31.53.

However, Carey’s form since the infamous stumping of England gloveman Jonny Bairstow has been cause for concern.

The 32-year-old scored a classy 99 during the recent bilateral ODI series against the Proteas in South Africa, but it’s a lone highlight in an otherwise horror run of low scores. Carey has averaged 16.77 with the bat since the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, passing 28 just once in 13 knocks across formats.

Meanwhile, West Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, who blasted 48 (30) in Tuesday’s warm-up match against Pakistan, is patiently waiting in the wings.

India's Ravindra Jadeja celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Alex Carey. Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFPSource: AFP

Australian coach Andrew McDonald threw his support behind Carey ahead of the World Cup, telling reporters on Thursday: “There’s no doubt Josh is playing an up-tempo game, the laps and reverse laps, he’s always been an option for us not only in the keeping space, but in the batting space as well.

“We feel as though he may have a role in the tournament as a bat only, and if something was to happen to Alex we’ve got a capable back-up who is not coming in raw into this environment.

“We’ve been impressed with what he has offered, but Alex Carey over a period of time has been ultra impressive.”

AUSSIE SPINNERS UTTERLY OUTCLASSED

When veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was introduced to the attack in the eighth over, Steve Smith immediately looked uncomfortable.

One of Ashwin’s first deliveries gripped and turned sharply, with puffs of dust erupting off the deck. Later in the Powerplay, Smith could only laugh when one of Ashwin’s carrom balls spun past his outside edge.

The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium pitch undeniably suited spin bowlers on Sunday afternoon, with India’s three tweakers benefiting from the scorched surface.

Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Ashwin combined to take 6-104 from their 30 overs, dominating the middle overs of Australia’s innings. Six members of Australia’s top seven fell to spin during a disastrous collapse of 7-89.

Australia were relying on Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell to wreak havoc in the second innings, yet neither of them were able to muster a breakthrough during the run chase. Instead, they collectively claimed 0-86 from 16 overs.

Zampa, who leaked three boundaries in his first over, finished with his worst ODI figures against India, 0-53 from eight overs.

Undisciplined bowling was partly to blame, but a drastic change in conditions also contributed to this disparity.

As noted by the commentary panel, added moisture in the surface and the cool conditions under lights provided minimal purchase off the deck. There was subsequently less variety in turn and bounce for Zampa and Maxwell to exploit.

Regardless, Zampa’s performance with the ball was bitterly underwhelming, particularly when considering what fellow wrist-spinner Yadav achieved on the same deck a few hours earlier.

“Australia have needed more out of their spinners in this innings,” former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson declared in commentary.

“Australia, if they want to go deep in this tournament, they need Zampa and Maxwell to have a bit more of an impact, more penetration.”

Australia's Adam Zampa. Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFPSource: AFP

KOHLI TOPPLES SACHIN’S RECORD

Never gift Virat Kohli an extra life during run chases.

When the hosts collapsed to 3-2 after two overs on Sunday evening, India needed a trademark rescue mission from their superstar No. 3.

Kohli, with the assistance of wicketkeeper KL Rahul, set about reviving India’s run chase, crawling towards 3-20 in the eighth over before disaster struck. A bouncer from Josh Hazlewood was top-edged towards mid-wicket, where Mitchell Marsh settled underneath a regulation chance.

But in a game-changing moment, the catch was grassed, handing Kohli a massive reprieve on 12. The Australians tried to laugh off the blunder, but it proved costly, with Kohli scoring 85 (116) to put India within touching distance of victory.

Highest ODI batting average in run chases

64.31 — Virat Kohli (IND)

56.81 — AB de Villiers (RSA)

56.50 — Michael Bevan (AUS)

55.33 — Joe Root (ENG)

54.73 — Babar Azam (PAK)

* Minimum 50 innings

Kohli is an undisputed warrior in the 50-over format, boasting the highest batting average in ODI run chases. With the possible exception of MS Dhoni, there’s nobody you’d prefer at the crease in the second innings of a white-ball contest.

However, somewhat surprisingly, the 34-year-old has been less effective during run chases at World Cups, with his average dropping to 37.30 at the quadrennial tournament. Before Sunday’s match in Chennai, Kohli had never scored a half-century in a successful World Cup run chase.

Courtesy of Marsh’s butter fingers, Kohli has ticked off the career milestone, helping pull off yet another rescue mission for the Indians.

The right-hander also toppled the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most runs scored in successful ODI chases, doing so in 32 fewer innings than the Indian cricket icon.

India's Virat Kohli. Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFPSource: AFP

INDIANS DESPERATELY MISSING ‘DANGEROUS’ OPENER

Earlier this week, David Warner was asked which member of India’s top order he thought was the most valuable scalp ahead of Australia’s tournament opener in Chennai.

The New South Welshman didn’t hesitate with his answer: “Shubman Gill.”

“He’s on fire at the moment. He’s just playing with absolute freedom,” Warner continued.

“He’s young. I remember looking back at the start of my career and you have no fear. You just come out and back yourself. That’s the most dangerous thing.”

Warner would have breathed a sigh of relief when Indian captain Rohit Sharma confirmed his opening partner would miss the tournament opener in Chennai due to illness.

Gill is the leading run-scorer in ODIs this year with 1230 runs at 72.35 and a superb strike rate of 105.03. The 24-year-old has blasted five ODI hundreds in 2023 thus far, including a record-breaking 208 (149) against New Zealand in Hyderabad.

He’s arguably the world’s best white-ball opener at the moment, and his absence was sorely felt on Sunday.

Australia's Mitchell Starc. Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFPSource: AFP

Ishan Kishan, Gill’s replacement, departed for a golden duck at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium after reaching for a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc, edging through to the slips cordon. The needless dismissal sparked a horror collapse of 3-0 from nine balls.

Gill’s return date is not confirmed, but India will be sweating on a speedy recovery.

India will next face Afghanistan at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, with the first ball scheduled for 7.30pm AEDT.