As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaches, Australian opener Usman Khawaja has shared his perspective on India’s formidable bowling lineup, emphasizing that Jasprit Bumrah is not his only focus. Speaking to Fox Cricket, Khawaja acknowledged Bumrah’s reputation but highlighted the depth of India’s bowling attack, including the contributions of pacers Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami.
Khawaja, known for his pragmatic approach to the game, praised Siraj as a versatile bowler effective against both right and left-handed batsmen. He also highlighted Shami’s skill and consistency, noting that Shami is “very underrated” despite his impressive performances in past series. “They’ve got good spinners, too, which really complements their fast bowlers,” Khawaja added, acknowledging India’s well-rounded attack.
Reflecting on his strategy for the upcoming series, Khawaja emphasized a mindset focused on scoring rather than purely defending against Bumrah. “I’m just not thinking about where Bumrah will get me out. I’m thinking about where I can score runs against him,” he remarked, underscoring the balance between caution and assertiveness in Test cricket.
The Border-Gavaskar series will kick off on November 22 with the first Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium. The series continues with a day-night Test at Adelaide Oval, followed by matches at Brisbane’s Gabba, the iconic Boxing Day Test at the MCG, and the series finale at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Fans are eagerly anticipating a fiercely competitive contest between two of cricket’s strongest teams.
