Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell believes India hasn’t come up with a solution to counter Usman Khawaja and it is hurting them in the Border-Gavaskar series. Khawaja played an unbeaten knock of 104 runs off 251 balls on the opening day of the fourth Test, helping Australia put on 255-4 after Steve Smith won the toss and decided to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Khawaja showed all patience in his batting as he didn’t give a sniff to the Indian bowlers. The left-hander played the Indian spinners with aplomb and he was able to bring his best once again.
In fact, Khawaja had returned with scores of 81 runs in the first innings at Delhi and then played a crucial knock of 60 in the first essay at Indore. The left-hander has scored 257 runs in the series, which is the highest in the series. This was Khawaja’s 14th Test century and his first on Indian soil as he continued to give nightmares to the Indian bowlers.
Ian Chappell said on ESPN Cricinfo, “I think the calmness of Khawaja has been exemplary in this series. One thing I can’t understand is India’s desire to come around the wicket at all times to a left-hander. It just doesn’t make any sense to me. All the good left-handers I have spoken to have said the right arm over the wicket is the toughest line to face. Ok, now for every now then for a change you can bowl around the wicket. It works well in England but in India, it is ridiculous. Particularly to a player like Khawaja, whose great strength is his on-side. We saw that today. Why would you angle the ball into his pads, when that’s exactly what he wants.”
He added, “The other thing about Khawaja is, he looked at ease at all times. India to me, haven’t come up with a solution to Khawaja’s batting and it is really starting to hurt them.”
Khawaja didn’t give any chance to the Indian bowlers as he was brilliant on the opening day at Ahmedabad. The southpaw showed all the resistance on a pitch, which didn’t had much help for the bowlers.
Khawaja has added an unbeaten alliance of 85 runs with Cameron Green, who is batting undefeated on 49 runs. Australia scored 106 runs in the final session and dominated the proceedings on the opening day’s play.
