For much of the history of the World Cup, Australia has broken India’s hearts. The five-time world champions have been India’s biggest stumbling block in the prized tournament since 1987, when they defeated India by one run, thrashed India in the 2003 final and 2015 semi-final, and hammered India again in the super-six game in 1999. The Indian team, however, beat Australia by six wickets thanks to K L Rahul and Virat Kohli’s batting master class and India’s spin bowling and gritty batting. Australia has never lost an opening match in World Cup history, this win will boost India’s confidence to justify the favourite’s tag.

In addition to vindicating India’s tactics and selection policies, the win also showcased the superb spin bowling of R Ashwin, a late but valuable addition. Following his return from an injury to his thigh, it was a justification of the selector’s faith in him. After a slow start, India’s seamers breathed aggression, spinners spat venom, and batsmen showed the grit to pull it off. After 10 minutes of outstanding bowling by Australian pacers, Virat and KL’s controlled batting, India bossed the game from there on.

The Indian team was three wickets down for two runs when Rahul joined Kohli in the middle. As the team was facing a stiff, uneasy chase on a slow pitch, the dressing room was filled with panic, Ravindra Jadeja later admitted. It was known for the team to struggle if its top-order batsmen were dismissed early. With a record partnership of 165 runs, Virat and KL sealed the chase for India. An already uphill task had now become a stiff, uneasy climb.

In what unfolded, two of India’s finest batsmen engineered an outstanding recovery act, as Rahul took a shower and hoped for a breather before he had to pad up. In a magnificent innings of 85, Kohli displayed his nerves of steel, his ability to read the situation, and his ability to respond to the tactics of his opponents.

Despite the pressure on India, Kohli took the responsibility to hand it back to Australia, which is why he is still India’s Man Friday. In the format, his most important strength is his ability to adapt to changing situations and take calculated risks. A boundary, where he drove Josh Hazlewood, who had accounted for Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer in the second over, was the best of them all. As soon as Kohli was given life when he was 13, the tentative loose drives vanished and the compactness returned.

He threw the ball down the ground, steered it to the third man, nudged it on the leg side and hoarded the runs, the old master of chases back to his old ways. Virat showed his grit and authority and once again proved why he is called the master of the run chase. He was not concerned about the heat, the bowlers, or the pressure to win the first match. He advised Rahul, “Play it like Test cricket,” Rahul later said.

Kl supported Virat and performed his duties as a number 5 batsman, once Kohli was dismissed by Hazelwood, KL took the onus on himself and finished the game in style with an extra cover six and remained not out on 97 runs, the only thing to regret is Kl misses his century. Other than that, it was a complete performance by Team India.