India vs Australia | We can get Virat Kohli through disciplined bowling, claims Usman Khawaja

12/15/2018

While calling Virat Kohli as a good batsman, who knows to respect good bowling, Usman Khawaja has stated that disciplined bowling accompanied by a bit of luck would get them his wicket. Virat Kohli is currently batting on an unbeaten score of 81 runs in India’s first innings at Perth.

After putting up a decent total of 326 runs in their first innings, the Australian bowlers managed to further improve their position in the match by picking two quick wickets in India’s first innings. But Indian skipper Virat Kohli had other plans and scored an unbeaten 81 runs and more importantly formed two important partnerships first with Cheteshwar Pujara and then with Ajinkya Rahane to take India to a decent position. Usman Khawaja, who came in for the press conference today, admitted that Kohli had played a good innings and was quick to point out that their bowlers need to get into a rhythm.

"Virat is a good batsman. He respects good bowlers. All our bowlers bowled well in patches today. Sometimes they nick it sometimes they don't. We just have to keep putting it in right place in the right time. We have to be disciplined enough to get those edges and a bit of luck is needed," Khawaja said on Saturday.

"If you give him an opportunity to score, he will take it. He was on it today and gave him a couple of fuller balls, so he hit us but at the same time, we had to attack stumps and see what the wicket had to offer. Probably bowling back of length was harder than fuller length, so he got away. Tomorrow he starts again so we have a chance."

Khawaja added that though India has lost only three wickets, Australia still had the upper hand and it is just a matter of few wickets before they dominate the match

"We haven't lost the upper hand and are still ahead of the game. Ajinkya Rahane came out and took on the short ball but we pegged them back as bowlers started bowling well," he said.

"We need to do it consistently through the whole period. We knew that but some days it comes easy, some days it doesn't."

Khawaja also asserted that though everyone acts as if they know how the wicket behaves, no one really knows exactly about it. He also felt that their bowlers may have not been consistent enough and if they improved in that front they could really put pressure on India.

"Everyone pretends to be an expert on wickets but none of us really know. Looked like it had patches where it was doing a little bit. They could have nicked a couple more and it would have been a different day," he said.

"There is still enough in it and maybe we bowled well in patches and then didn't in other patches. They batted well and put pressure on our bowlers."