New Delhi: Australian opener Usman Khawaja has opened up on his struggles against Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The left-handed batter had a rough series in what was Australia’s redemption against India as the hosts reclaimed the BGT series after a span of 10 long years.
Khawaja made 184 runs in 10 innings at a dipping average of 20.44 with his best score (57) came in the first innings of the Boxing-Day Test at the MCG. He was troubled by Bumrah more than often in the five-match series. The Queensland batter was never once dismissed by Bumrah in their previous seven face-offs.
Coming to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, the momentum shifted in Bumrah’s favour as the Indian bowling spearhead accounted for Khawaja’s wicket in six out of eight innings they faced each other. This has resulted in Khawaja’s average going down against the Indian bowler with 12.7 at the end of the BGT.
Khawaja was honest in his assessment and didn’t minced words to defend his below-average performance. He used the term ‘Bumrah-ed’ to summarise his shortcomings against the Indian fast bowler.
“To be honest, I was just getting Bumrah-ed. It was friggin’ tough work. It was tough work. People were asking me ‘what’s going on?’ I’m being honest, I’m just getting Bumrah-ed,” Khawaja told ABC Sport after Australia’s series win over India.
Bumrah picked up a total of 32 wickets at an astounding average of 13.06 with the help of three five-wicket hauls to finish as the leading wicket-taker of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He also donned the captain’s armband in the first and final Test matches of this series after regular captain Rohit Sharma wasn’t available to play due to varying reasons.
The Indian fast bowler suffered back spasm on the fourth day of the Sydney Test and was immediately rushed to hospital for scans. He didn’t bowl when India were tasked out to defend 162 runs in the fourth innings.
Khawaja made 184 runs in 10 innings at a dipping average of 20.44 with his best score (57) came in the first innings of the Boxing-Day Test at the MCG. He was troubled by Bumrah more than often in the five-match series. The Queensland batter was never once dismissed by Bumrah in their previous seven face-offs. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
