India-Australia Test Series: Khawaja Reflects on Indian Support in Melbourne
India’s highly anticipated tour of Australia is approaching, with both teams preparing for the intense five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy series. India, the current holders of the trophy, will aim to retain their dominance, while Australia will seek to reclaim it on home soil.
The build-up to the series has been marked by excitement and anticipation. Indian opener Usman Khawaja, who has played in Australia, shared his unique experience of playing in Melbourne, where the large Indian expat population and traveling fans often make it feel like an Indian home game.
“It can be funny because you can get a lot of Indian supporters in Australia,” said Khawaja. “When I played in Melbourne the last time, there were so many people there. They were supporting India…I was like ‘are we in Delhi or are we at the MCG?'”
The Australian pitches have undergone significant changes in recent years, becoming more challenging for batsmen. Khawaja acknowledged this shift, noting that there have been fewer centuries scored in Australia over the past two years.
“Australian wickets have changed a lot,” said Khawaja. “It has felt like over the last few years the ball has dominated the bat considerably. The conditions have been quite bowler-friendly (lately). Whether or not they will be bowler-friendly this year, I don’t know; but it has definitely thrown a different spanner in the works.”
India will be looking to continue their recent success in Australia, having won the last two series Down Under. The team will be led by Rohit Sharma, who has been in impressive form as captain. Australia, on the other hand, will be eager to prove their mettle on home soil and regain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
The series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world’s top cricketing nations. The battle between India’s formidable batting lineup and Australia’s potent bowling attack will be a key factor in determining the outcome.