‘It’s a different, bizarre kind of action’ – Usman Khawaja describes how it is like facing Jasprit Bumrah

Usman Khawaja and Jasprit Bumrah. (Source -Getty Images)

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is scheduled to begin from November 22 with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The Indian team has reached the Australian shore and is busy in practice sessions at the WACA Stadium in Perth. Ahead of the crucial encounter, certain individual rivalries have created enough buzz. 

One of those rivalries is that of star India pacer, Jasprit Bumrah and Australia opener, Usman Khawaja. With all eyes on these two, Khawaja has stated that picking Bumrah on the field becomes much more difficult due to the latter’s “bizarre” bowling action. It is worth noting that Khawaja has faced the right-arm pacer in seven Test innings and is unbeaten against him. He has managed to score 43 runs only though, facing 155 deliveries.

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“I mean, when you first face him, it’s just his action. It’s a different, bizarre kind of action as his release point is very different than other bowlers. It’s just a bit further up. So a lot of guys release the ball from near the popping crease. [Against Bumrah] it feels like he gets a bit further out just with his front braced leg and pushes the ball out,” Khawaja told Fox Cricket.

“So it feels like it comes out and then gets there a lot quicker than you expect it. It’s just once you get used to the action, it’s fine. I played against him a lot. Not to say that he can’t give me out first ball. I mean anyone can. But it’s one of those things where once the first time you face him, it’s very awkward and then when you get a little bit of rhythm it gets better. But he’s still a class bowler,” he added.

Spinners really complement India’s fast bowlers: Khawaja

Australia have more to prove in comparison to India in the upcoming series. They have been thwarted by India on last two occasions they played hosts to the Asian giants. Khawaja, however, involuntarily provided a sneak peak into the dressing room discussions by stating that the Indian bowling attack has more lethal weapons in their arsenal than just Bumrah.

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“Everyone talks about Jasprit, but they actually have a lot of other good bowlers. I think [Mohammed] Siraj is a very good bowler. He’s a very good bowler to both right-handers and left-handers. When [Mohammed] Shami was fit, when he was playing those series, he was a very good bowler. He was very underrated. No one really talked about him. And then they got good spinners lining up, too, which really complements their fast bowlers,” Khawaja concluded.