PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 17: Usman Khawaja of Australia walks the boundary prior to day five of the second Test match between Australia and New Zealand at the WACA on November 17, 2015 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Australian opening batter Usman Khawaja has detailed his unique trip to India which includes multiple flights and visa issues.
While the rest of the Australian team reached the ground in India last week, it was not to be for Usman Khawaja. Khawaja was forced to stay home after not receiving a visa in time for the scheduled Bangalore flight.
After that moment, he would then get approval for his visa before being stranded in an airport hotel after his flight to Delhi was delayed. This came after his previous flight to Melbourne was also delayed.
"I went Usain Bolt trying to make my connection," Khawaja told cricket.com.au about his crazy arrival to India.
"I somehow got on that flight – the last flight of the whole night – and got here. From the time I left Melbourne to here it was 24 hours."
These flight issues meant the Test Opener of the Year would only manage to compete in one training session in Alur, where the Aussie team made spinning wickets. Inclined he won't be at a disadvantage, Khawaja is coming off his career-best year in 2022.
The Brisbane Heat member has created a powerful duo with David Warner at the top of the order since his re-inclusion into the side.
After a disappointing debut in the subcontinent region where he averaged 14.62 runs in his first five matches, he has gone on to claim the region as his own.
Easily Australia's best player in the subcontinent, he has averaged 95.77 in his last 12 innings, which include three centuries.
"I'm a very fluid player. I say I'm more artist than architect, I go by feel, and suss the conditions and work on the fly," he said.
"I've been playing cricket for so long. I know what I'm trying to do when I get out there. Assess the conditions, play accordingly."
"It doesn't really change too much for me. I'm at a point in my career where I go out there, play the game, enjoy the game and try to win games from a team. The rest is inconsequential."