IND vs AUS: Ian Chappell confused with India's bowling approach to Usman Khawaja
Former Australia cricketer Ian Chappell was extremely impressed with current Australia cricketer Usman Khawaja's batting approach against India in the opening day of the fourth and final Test, of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2023
Usman Khawaja smashed his fourteenth Test ton of his career to put Australia in the driver's seat on Day 1 of the fourth Test. Though the scoring rate was moderate, Khawaja maintained his composure to a tee as the opener played and manoeuvred the Indian bowlers to utmost perfection.
On the other hand, the Indian bowlers were quite below-par in their performance. Though they managed to claim four wickets, but with Usman Khawaja still at the crease, they will have a task cut out as they come to play on Day 2. Ian Chappell was specifically very dissatisfied with the poor bowling tactics India were displaying especially towards Khawaja.
"One thing I can't understand is India's desire to come around the wicket the whole time to a left-hander. It just doesn't make any sense to me. You speak to all the good left-handers that I've spoken to, and they say that right-arm over the wicket is the toughest guy to face. It's okay every now and again for a bit of a change around the wicket," the 79-year-old said while speaking with ESPNCricinfo.
Ian Chappell didn't mince his words to be critical of India. What bothered him the most was the midset the Indian bowling department was displaying particularly while facing opener Usman Khawaja. The former top-order batter first reserved high praises for Khawaja, stating that the 36-year-old showed immense calmness and consistency throughout this Test series till now.
As for the Indian bowlers, Chappell stated that it was not at all that difficult for them to work out a strategy to dismiss Khawaja. All they had to do was to just change the direction of their bowling attack, which is the usual norm to face a left-hander.
"Maybe around the wicket works more in England. But in India, ridiculous, particularly to a player like Usman Khawaja, whose great strength is his onside, and we saw that today. Why would you angle the ball into his pads when that's exactly what he wants? Khawaja looked at ease the whole time. India haven't come up with a solution to Khawaja's batting, and it's really starting to hurt them," Chappell concluded.
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