Ravichandran Ashwin is very skillful, has some tricky variations: Usman Khawaja

Ashwin will be a threat for the Aussies [Twitter]

Ahead of the first Test against India, the Australian team are leaving no stone unturned to figure out Ravichandran Ashwin's wizardry. The team management brought in Baroda's Maheesh Pithiya, who shows a resemblance to Ashwin's bowling for practice. 

In-form opener Usman Khawaja has acknowledged the Indian off-spinner and praised him for his bowling. Khawaja, yet to play a Test in India, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, revealed that he is ready to battle it out in the middle against Ashwin and Co.

India's leading off-spinner has taken 50 wickets against Australia in India, showcasing why the opposition is spooked. 

Here's what Khawaja said

"Ashwin is a gun, very skillful, got a lot of tricky little variations, and uses the crease quite well too,

So it's all about figuring out how I'm going to play against Ashwin, how I'm going to score runs against him, what he might do. If you bat a long time against him, he's going to change his game plans against you,"

The opener is coming off a great run in 2022, smashing 1,020 Test runs at an average of 76.46, bagging Cricket Australia's 'Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year' award.

The first Test at Nagpur will begin on February 9, with Australia facing injury concerns in their bowling.

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