Australia vs India: Usman Khawaja Reflects on Facing Jasprit Bumrah in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
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Khawaja’s Struggles Against Bumrah
Australian opener Usman Khawaja entered the Border-Gavaskar Trophy confident about facing Jasprit Bumrah. In previous encounters, Bumrah had failed to dismiss him across seven Test innings. Khawaja believed that Bumrah’s challenges could be better managed with familiarity.
However, this series told a different story. Bumrah dismissed Khawaja six times in just eight innings, leading Khawaja to admit, “I was just getting Bumrah-ed.” Speaking to ABC Sport after Australia’s victory in Sydney, Khawaja described the experience as “tough work.” He noted that Bumrah’s bowling left him and others struggling for solutions.
- Khawaja found Bumrah to be a uniquely challenging bowler.
- Bumrah dismissed Khawaja six times in eight innings during the series.
- Bumrah’s performance earned him the Player of the Series award.
Bumrah’s Impact and Injury
Bumrah dominated the series, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 32 wickets at an average of 13.06. His contribution was pivotal to India’s performance, though he played only nine innings due to an injury.
During the final match in Sydney, Bumrah experienced back spasms and could not participate in Australia’s second innings chase. His absence gave Australia a confidence boost, which Khawaja acknowledged.
“When we saw Bumrah wasn’t on the field, we felt we had a real chance,” Khawaja said. He emphasized how vital Bumrah is to the Indian team and described the relief felt by Australian players when they did not have to face him on a challenging pitch.
Bumrah’s Evolution Since 2018
Khawaja praised Bumrah’s remarkable improvement since his debut in the 2018-19 Australia tour. He pointed out Bumrah’s maturity and skill development over the years.
“He was very good in 2018, but now he’s something different,” Khawaja said. He highlighted Bumrah’s ability to read batters, adapt strategies, and execute precise plans. According to Khawaja, Bumrah’s improved understanding of his craft made him an exceptionally difficult bowler to counter.
Facing Bumrah: A Unique Challenge
Khawaja described Bumrah as the toughest bowler he has ever faced. He noted Bumrah’s ability to keep batsmen under constant pressure. Unlike other bowlers, Bumrah rarely allowed scoring opportunities, making it difficult for batters to rotate the strike or build momentum.
“It felt like he always had a wicket ball ready,” Khawaja said. This consistent pressure and unpredictability set Bumrah apart from others, forcing even experienced batters to struggle.