08 October,2023 03:40 PM IST | Chepauk | mid-day online correspondent
David Warner (Pic: AFP)
Australia opener David Warner on Sunday eclipsed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record to become the fastest player to reach 1,000 World Cup runs during their tournament opener against India.
Warner achieved the landmark in 19 innings in Chennai's Chepauk to better Tendulkar and former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers' record - both of whom got the runs in 20 outings.
The left-handed Warner smashed Hardik Pandya for a boundary to take the record. Tendulkar, an Indian batting great who retired from the game in 2013, has the highest runs -- 2,278 -- in the 50-over showpiece event.
Warner, 36, has scored over 6,000 runs in 151 ODIs and remains Australia's key to getting their sixth World Cup crown in what may be his last appearance in the tournament.
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Australia, having won the toss and elected to bat first, dropped Marcus Stoinis due to a hamstring injury as they headed into their 150th ODI fixture with India.
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The stadium was half-full before the first ball, but with thousands waiting outside the match is expected to witness a packed house in contrast to the mostly empty stadiums seen through the tournament so far.
Cummins said injured Travis Head was 'on a couch in Adelaide' while Sean Abbott, Josh Inglis and Stoinis had also missed out. With India opener Shubman Gill not having recovered from dengue fever, Ishan Kishan is set to open the proceedings for India.
India remain one of the favourites to win the 50-over crown at home and end their world title drought since the 2013 Champions Trophy. They last won the World Cup in 2011.
Teams
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Australia: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
(With agency inputs)