CHENNAI: The Virat Kohli-led Indian Team beat Australia by 26 runs in a rain-curtailed affair at Chennai's Chepauk Stadium to start the five-match ODI series on an emphatic note.
However, the spectators were deprived of watching their local hero Ravichandran Ashwin in action, as the offspinner currently is in the United Kingdom, playing in county cricket for Worcestershire.
Despite his on-field absence yesterday, which was also his 31st birthday, Ashwin did make sure that one of his biggest fans in the Tamil Nadu capital won't be deprived of watching Kohli and Co. in live action at Chepauk.
43-year-old P Venkatesan, who is battling with a kidney-related ailment, got a hospitality box ticket from The Ashwin Foundation, as reported by the Times of India.
Venkatesan, who will be undergoing a transplant surgery during November with his sister donating a kidney, said, "I have only viewed from the galleries. Thanks to the efforts taken by Ashwin's management team, I am watching the game from the hospitality box. For someone like me, it's a once-in-a-lifetime event. I will never ever forget the courtesy extended by Ashwin."
Stating that it was a part of his foundation's endeavour to put a smile on faces, the offspinner said, "We are definitely not doing this for publicity. It is the part of our endeavour at The Ashwin Foundation to put a smile on faces. Every request or friendly demand cannot be met with a positive response but we do the best we can. Venkat is a genuine cricket lover and this is the least we could do for him."
Venkatesan, a Chepauk regular, wanted to see Ashwin in action against Aussies.
"I saw the Test match where he bowled beautifully. I wanted to see him in action on his birthday. A bit disappointed but no doubt but if India wins I will be fine," he added.
The on-field absence of the offspinner didn't deter the spirit of Chennai crowd, as they got their money's worth.
They were treated with a flamboyant knock of 66-ball 83 from all-rounder Hardik Pandya, while the former Indian captain and wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrated his Chennai
homecoming with a composed 79 off 88 balls. The 118-run sixth-wicket partnership between the duo helped the home side to post competitive 281 for seven, from a precarious 87-5.
The visitors, on the other hand, couldn't get going, after a long rain-break, as the Indian bowlers made regular breakthroughs while defending a revised target of 164 in 21 overs, as per Duckworth Lewis method. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal grabbed three for 30 in his five overs, Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya too chipped in by getting two wickets each.
For Aussies, Glenn Maxwell was the highest scorer, with an 18-ball 39.