NEW DELHI: India kicked off their home World Cup campaign in Chennai with an exciting match against five-time champions Australia on Sunday.
The first game of the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup witnessed a remarkable achievement by Virat Kohli, as he became the outfield fielder with the most catches for India in the history of the tournament.
In the third over of the match, Mitchell Marsh edged a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah and Kohli displayed his exceptional athleticism by taking an acrobatic catch at slip. Diving to his left, Kohli managed to grab the ball with both hands, tumbling over in the process.
This catch marked Kohli's 15th catch in his 28th World Cup game, surpassing the previous record held jointly with Anil Kumble, who had taken 14 catches for India.
Following Kumble, the next in the list are legendary cricketers Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar, both with 12 catches each.
Earlier, Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first in this highly anticipated World Cup opener.
In a significant change to the Indian lineup, Ishan Kishan replaced Shubman Gill, who was unable to recover from dengue fever in time for the match.
This thrilling encounter between India and Australia marked the beginning of the 2023 World Cup campaign for both the teams. It also showcased Kohli's exceptional fielding skills and his determination to leave a lasting impact in the tournament.
Most catches for India in ODI World Cup (non-Wicketkeeeper):
15 - Virat Kohli
14 - Anil Kumble
12 - Kapil Dev
12 - Sachin Tendulkar
