(Image Source: Disney HotStar)
[Saba Sports News] During the 5th ICC Cricket ODI World Cup match between Australia and India in Chennai, the intense heat took a toll on the Australian players.
They had to take breaks on the field to cope with the scorching conditions. Steve Smith and David Warner, who were at the crease, even resorted to using umbrellas for shade but struggled with the sweltering Chennai heat. The match, set in Chennai with temperatures reaching nearly 32 degrees Celsius, proved challenging for the Australian team, as they were unaccustomed to such high temperatures.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat in the hot and humid conditions at Chepauk. The pitch favored spinners, making it difficult for batters. Mitchell Marsh fell early, but Smith and Warner stabilized the innings with a solid batting performance against spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja.
India made changes to their playing XI for the match, with Ishan Kishan replacing Shubman Gill due to dengue fever, and Ravichandran Ashwin coming in for Shardul Thakur to capitalize on the spin-friendly conditions. Australia made a single change, bringing in Cameron Green for Marcus Stoinis, who was rumored to be injured.
Australian cricketers have historically struggled to adapt to the hot playing conditions in India, as seen in previous matches. Despite Steve Smith’s good form against the Indian bowlers, the oppressive heat and humidity posed a significant challenge.
Smith even had a chair and an ice pack during a drinks break around the 30th over to help cope with the conditions, but it didn’t prevent his dismissal by Siraj in the 32nd over.