IND vs AUS [Twitter reactions]: Usman Khawaja’s century helps Australia end Day 1 on high

The opening day of the fourth and final Test between India and Australia kicked off at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. The tourists won the toss and chose to bat first at the track, which looked promising for the batters and bowlers with some spin and turn-on offer.

Aussies started well, with openers Travis Head and Usman Khawaja seeing off the first few overs and adding 61 runs in 15.3 overs. However, India’s star spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, struck first blood by dismissing Head for just 32 runs. Marnus Labuschagne joined Khawja at the crease, but he couldn’t stay longer as Mohammed Shami sent back the right-handed batter for just 3 runs.

Before India could strike more, captain Steve Smith and Khawaja built a crucial partnership to guide Australia’s innings. The duo went on to add 79 runs for the third wicket before Ravindra Jadeja broke the stand by removing his bunny Smith for 38. Soon, Peter Handscomb was removed for 17 before Cameron Green steadied the innings with Khawaja, who smashed a scintillating hundred. Khawaja also became the first Australian left-hander to score a Test century in India in 13 years, the last being Marcus North in Bengaluru in 2010/11.

Australia managed to end the day on a high, with Khawaja (104 not out) and Green (49 not out) at the crease as the Australian team ended the day’s play at 255/4 in 90 overs. For India, Shami was the pick of the bowlers, finishing the day with figures of 2 for 65 in 17 overs, including 2 maidens.

Batting out an entire day’s play vs India in India since 2013:

• Dinesh Chandimal (25* to 147* on day 3) Delhi 2017
• Usman Khawaja (0* to 104* on day 1) Ahmedabad 2023

Here is how Twitter reacted:

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Stumps on Day 1️⃣ of the Fourth #INDvAUS Test!

2️⃣ wickets in the final session as Australia finish the opening day with 255/4 on board.

We will be back tomorrow as another action-packed day awaits💪

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/8DPghkx0DE#INDvAUS | @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/hdRZrif7HC

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 9, 2023

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496 runs in Pakistan in 3 Tests in 2022.

45.67 average in Sri Lanka in 2 Tests in 2022.

Leading run-scorer for Australia in India in 2023.

The second coming of Usman Khawaja has been beautiful. pic.twitter.com/5vEF40Uijf

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 9, 2023

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Usman Khawaja averaged 14.62 in his first five Tests in Asia. In his next 11, he’s averaging 74.60 #INDvAUS

— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) March 9, 2023

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Uzzzzzzzy 💯💪#BringTheHEAT #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/kzWiacCBQ9

— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) March 9, 2023

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Usman Khawaja: “I’ve been to India two tours before this, and I carried the drinks for all eight Tests. It was a long journey.

“To finally get a hundred in India, as an Australian, that’s what you want to do, it’s what you want to tick off, so it’s very special.”#INDvAUS

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) March 9, 2023

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🇦🇺 reach 255/4 despite Shami’s ✌️ wickets.

Need more wickets tomorrow 👊#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/5KIhzqKatc

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) March 9, 2023

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An unbeaten 85-run stand between Khawaja and Green has put Australia in control.#WTC23 | #INDvAUS | 📝 https://t.co/VJoLfVSeIF pic.twitter.com/9Xu5aPnDLZ

— ICC (@ICC) March 9, 2023

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Well Played, Usman Khawaja 👏🏼#INDvAUS #4thTest #cricket #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/RCbuzwzcjw

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) March 9, 2023

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Australia watching Uzzie#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/D8ccM9IY2Q

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) March 9, 2023

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This century in Ahmedabad for @Uz_Khawaja is the official burial of the “Uzzy can’t play spin” narrative #IndvAus

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) March 9, 2023

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Well deserved Usman 💯💪#MaroonGrown #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/ljJrfJgzvZ

— Queensland Cricket (@qldcricket) March 9, 2023