IND vs AUS: Captain Suryakumar Yadav leads from the front, Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh as well in India's historic run-chase

While this victory may not fully satiate the desire for the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 title, it serves as a soothing balm after the heartbreak in the final, securing a significant win against Australia. 

The young Indian squad claimed the first game of the five-match series by 2 wickets at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

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The climax of the match became a bit tense, but Rinku Singh maintained composure, delivering a splendid six on the final ball of the innings, later declared a no-ball, so was granted a run and India emerged victorious.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav played a pivotal role with the bat, scoring 80 off 42 balls, alleviating the pressure while chasing the challenging target set by the Australians. Ishan Kishan also launched an assault on the Australian bowlers, contributing 58 runs off 39 balls.

Notably, this successful chase of 209 runs ranks as the highest target India has chased down in T20Is, surpassing several significant achievements in the team's history.

Highest targets successfully chased by India in T20Is:

209 vs AUS, Visakhapatnam, 2023

208 vs WI, Hyderabad, 2019

207 vs SL, Mohali, 2009

204 vs NZ, Auckland, 2020

202 vs AUS, Rajkot, 2013

Earlier in the match, after being told to bat, Australia amassed a formidable total of 208 for the loss of three wickets. Ravi Bishnoi claimed the early wicket of Matthew Short, but the duo of Steve Smith and Josh Inglis dominated the Indian bowlers. 

Smith and Inglis forged a partnership of 130 runs for the second wicket in just 11.1 overs. While Smith contributed a measured 52 runs off 41 balls, Inglis accelerated to his fifty off 29 balls and eventually reached his maiden T20I half-century off 47 balls. 

Inglis's remarkable innings included 110 runs off 50 balls, featuring 11 fours and eight sixes before Prasidh Krishna dismissed him. Tim David's aggressive approach ensured he remained unbeaten with 19 runs off 13 balls.