On the Day 1 of the ongoing fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Australian opener, Usman Khawaja smashed a brilliant hundred. Taking his team to a comfortable position, he hammered unbeaten 104 runs off 251 balls. The left-hander has been phenomenal throughout the day as he never looked rusty or uncomfortable while batting.
In the ongoing series, the opening batter became the first Australian batter to score a century. Khawaja formed key partnerships with the likes of Travis Head (32), Steven Smith (38), and Cameron Green (49*). Khawaja, along with Green went unbeaten and will look to convert his hundred into a big one on the second day. Meanwhile, for India pacer, Mohammed Shami shined with the bowl as he took two wickets. While spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each.
“It was a lot of emotions”, says Usman Khawaja after scoring a century
After his amazing batting performance, the Islamabad-born player spoke with the broadcasters and went emotional. He recalled his previous tours and shared the importance of this hundred.
“It was a lot of emotion in that. I have been to India on two tours before this and carried the drinks in eight Test matches. It was such a nice wicket; I just didn’t want to give my wicket away. It was a mental battle more than anything. You need to put your ego away. I’ve got no superstitions… just run through, stretch,” said Khawaja.
Notably, the Queensland player becomes the second batter after India skipper Rohit Sharma to smash a hundred in the ongoing series. The latter scored a magnificent century in the first Test at Nagpur. India will try to stop Australia from under 400 to be in the game. They will also expect their batters to fire against the Australian spinners.
Meanwhile, fans react to Khawaja’s magnificent century and call it a series decider. A Twitter user said, “Ab toh daro Ben Stokes!”
Here are some Tweets:
The real threat was always him in Asia. No Smith or Labuschagne. He is striking at the wrong time. Udhar Sri Lanka vaale New Zealand ko maar rahe. WTC 🙏
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) March 9, 2023
Chudi pehen le ropig suarma pic.twitter.com/0XhkwSrlNu
— 𝚅𝙸𝚁𝙰𝚃_𝙺𝙾𝙷𝙻𝙸👑🐐 (@PandeyyOm) March 9, 2023
Just not the best Australian batsman , the best batsman from either Side in this series .
— Niranjan Balachandar (@NiranjanBalach3) March 9, 2023
Those who are saying on a road, didn't he scored 60+ in back to back matches on rank turners just few days back?
— Jerry //backup account// (@Yildizlar118) March 9, 2023
This could be a series – leveler act by the great Test cricketer. 104* may be 150* by lunch tomorrow……. Good to watch him play with so much patience and firmness.
— Raju Topagi (@topagi_raju) March 9, 2023
Sara bana banaya match Last ke 9 over me thali me parosh Diya hamare Bowler ne,
Acha khasa 81 over me under 200 score tha last ke 9 over me 55+ run luta diye bina wickets ke,
— शेरात ☞ अली (DC) (@Branded_Tweet) March 9, 2023
He is such a gem. ACB ruined his career by not giving him enough chances
— Muhammad Awais (@Awaisspeaksss) March 9, 2023
Congratulations Khawaja on your first test 💯 against India 👌
— Mrinango C.Borty (VK fan) (@ViratKo66279185) March 9, 2023
Ab toh gabrao saloo
— @jashim🇮🇳 (@jsim_king) March 9, 2023
What a brilliant century 💯
— Sandpaper (@notacommonbruhh) March 9, 2023
— Keshav Singhal (@stxrnritxxr) March 9, 2023
The best opener Australia had in years yet he hardly played for them before the last Ashes.
— Atikul Islam (@Feligator6owner) March 9, 2023
No rank turners no party for captain Nofit Sharma 😭 most overrated captain of BCCI history in my books
— LA LA LAND ☭ (@Pratikeighteen) March 9, 2023
Destroyer of Pakistan❤ pic.twitter.com/5iobSEGwJF
— Santosh (@SmpPhukan) March 9, 2023
