Aus Vs Ind 4th Test Day 1: Australia got off to a strong start in the fourth and final Test match against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday, posting 255/4 in 90 overs by stumps on Day 1. Having won the toss and opted to bat, the Aussies saw opener Usman Khawaja slam a magnificent century, remaining unbeaten on 104 runs off 251 balls, including 15 fours.
Khawaja was in top form, displaying a vast array of shots against the Indian bowling attack, and will resume batting with Cameron Green (49*) on Day 2. The duo will look to build a solid partnership and help Australia put up a big total on the board.
The visitors got off to a flyer, with Khawaja and Travis Head showing positive intent from the outset. Head, in particular, looked in good touch before getting dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin for 32 runs off 44 balls. Despite his departure, he had done his job in helping Australia lay a strong foundation.
After Head’s wicket, Marnus Labuschagne came in at no. 3, but failed to make an impact, departing cheaply for just three runs off 20 balls. This brought Steve Smith to the crease, who built a steady partnership with Khawaja, but lost his wicket to Ravindra Jadeja for 38 runs off 135 balls.
At no. 5, Peter Handscomb looked comfortable at the crease, but a brilliant delivery by Mohammed Shami saw him depart for 17 runs off 27 balls, with the pacer also taking his second wicket of the day. However, all-rounder Cameron Green provided good support to Khawaja, as the duo built a solid partnership, which also saw the opener reach his century.
Aus Vs India 4th Test Day 1: Khawaja puts Australia in commanding position
“I dont think i’ve ever smiled so much on getting a century… I just never expected this to happen.” Usman Khwaja said after hitting a splendid century in the Aus vs Ind test match in Gujarat
Usman Khawaja, who was once plagued with the tag of ‘can’t play spin’ earlier in his career, silenced his critics with an unbeaten century on the first day of the final Border Gavaskar Trophy Test. This feat served as a personal vindication for the 36-year-old and is a testament to the approach that helped him achieve something he once thought was impossible.
The Aus Vs Ind match holds great significance in the context of the World Test Championship, with India needing a positive outcome to join Australia in the finals, which are scheduled to be played at The Oval in June. A draw or even a defeat won’t put curtains on India’s qualification chances, but a lot will depend on the outcome of the Test series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which starts on Thursday.
Early in his career Usman Khawaja was labelled a batter who couldn’t play spin, but his record over the past 18 months has proven otherwise
Australia, on the other hand, will be looking to carry forward their winning momentum and level the series after trailing 1-2 in the four-match series. With Khawaja leading the charge, the Aussies will be hoping to put up a big total on Day 2 and put pressure on the Indian batsmen.
Overall, Day 1 of Aus Vs Ind belonged to Australia, with Khawaja playing a brilliant knock and the team putting up a decent score. However, there is still a long way to go in the Test match, and India will be looking to bounce back strongly on Day 2 and restrict Australia to a manageable total. The game is poised nicely, and fans can expect an exciting battle between bat and ball over the next few days.
