After all the hype and hoopla, India vs Australia Test series has entered the last day of play, On Day 5 of the fourth test match at Ahmedabad, the home side will be looking to win the test match to win the series by a margin of 3-1.
While in the Ahmedabad Test, Australia posted a mammoth total of 480 runs in their first innings with the help of Usman Khawja’s 180 runs. But on Day 4, when the visitors came out to bat for their second stint, the left-handed opening batter didn’t come to bat.
In his innings of 180 runs, along with Cameron Green’s 114 mark, they together shared a 208-run stand to help Australia pile up a huge total of 480 runs in their first innings.
Khawaja’s MRI scan-
“He has soreness in his left lower leg, just below the knee on the outside of the lower leg. Will be assessed again at the ground,” said a team spokesman, as per News Corp.
“He did have a (MRI) scan, which is standard procedure. The imaging did not reveal anything conclusive,” he further added.
The star opener hurt his left leg while fielding in the fourth Test against India on the boundary, Khawaja was helped off the field by the team doctor following a catching attempt gone wrong in India’s first innings.
Steve Smith-led side had to face six overs before stumps on Day 4, but left-arm spinner and No.11 positioned batter, Matt Kuhnemann was sent out as a nightwatchman to open with Travis Head instead of Khawaja.
The Paksitani-born cricketer was brought up in Australia and became the first Muslim to grab the ‘Baggy Green’ cap in 2011, he has played 59 Test matches for his side and scored 4315 runs. Despite making his debut in 2011, the southpaw batter made his Test debut in India in the BGT 2023. The 36-year-old has been in and out of the side throughout his career.
Injury updates ? #INDvAUS
Shreyas Iyer will seek specialist opinion over his recurring back injury
Usman Khawaja underwent a fitness assessment, but Australia will hope they don't need him to bat today
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— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 13, 2023
While, on Day 5, till the news was written, the visitors lost their first wicket, after Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed the night watchman, Marnus Labuschagne joined Head on the crease, with Australia on 21/1. as per reports Khawaja will come to bat but his batting order is still not known in the second innings of the Ahmedabad Test.
At the same time, India needs to win the final test match at Ahmedabad for full assurance of qualification to the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, or Sri Lanka didn’t win the New Zealand series by 2-0, meanwhile, the ‘Baggy Greens’ has already reached the WTC Final in England, after avoiding the clean sweep in Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2023.