Mitch Marsh's horror moment as Aussies savaged over 'pathetic' display at World Cup

Australia have been made to pay for some poor batting and sloppy fielding in a crushing six-wicket loss to India at the Cricket World Cup. After only managing to post 199 while batting first on Sunday, the Aussies made the perfect start with the ball to leave India reeling at 3-2.

They then had a golden opportunity to claim the prized scalp of Virat Kohli when India were 3-20, but Mitch Marsh put down a simple chance when running in from square leg. Kohli top-edged a ball from Josh Hazlewood straight into the air, but Marsh couldn't hold onto the chance as he appeared to be worried about a potential collision with Alex Carey.

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The miss proved extremely costly for Australia, with Kohli going on to make 85 before he was eventually caught at mid-wicket off Hazlewood. But it was too little too late, with India reaching their victory target with 8.4 overs to spare and six wickets in hand.

The loss comes as a brutal reality check for Australia, who must now regroup and bounce back. "It's not ideal, especially someone of his calibre," Australia captain Pat Cummins said of Marsh's drop. "It happens, 4-20 would have been a dream start, but not to be."

KL Rahul was the hero for India, finishing unbeaten on 97 after combining with Kohli for a 165-run fourth-wicket partnership. India were able to bat without risk after Kohli's early life, against an Australian team that were sloppy at times at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium.

On a slow wicket that offered plenty for the turners, India's three spinners bowled a combined 30 overs for 6-104 as Australia batted themselves into a hole. Only David Warner and Steve Smith managed to pass 30, before the Aussies were all out in the last over after facing 174 dot balls in their innings.

At one stage the Aussies went 73 balls without hitting a boundary and only hit two between the 16th and 39th overs. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the Indian spinners with 3-28, while Kuldeep Yadav bagged 2-42 after taking the crucial wicket of Warner for 41 to halt Australia's momentum.

Jadeja took all three of his wickets in the space of 2.3 overs, as Australia slumped from 2-110 to 5-119. Jadeja's ball to get Smith for 46 was the best of the lot, after it angled in at the right-hander, spun back past his outside edge and took the top of off stump.

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Australia's spinners were underwhelming in comparison and couldn't get anything remotely like the same purchase. After Mitchell Starc (1-31) and Hazlewood (3-38) took three wickets in the first two overs, the hosts were able to cruise through the middle parts of their innings.

Glenn Maxwell went for 0-33 from his eight overs, while Adam Zampa went for 0-53 from eight. With Ashton Agar a late omission for the tournament due to a calf injury, Zampa is the only front-line spinning option in the squad.

But he never really threatened to take a wicket on Sunday as India cruised. Australia's lack of spin prowess could become an issue later in the tournament, particularly if wickets wear and turn more as the World Cup goes on.

"We had them three for none basically with our quick bowlers, so I wasn't too upset (about the lack of spin options)," Cummins said. "We still had 20 overs of spin. I think with another 50 on the board there that bowling innings looks a little bit different."

Australia's woeful display was widely panned on social media. They face South Africa next and will need to improve quickly after the Proteas obliterated Sri Lanka in their first game.

with AAP

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