David Warner ready for Ashwin challenge on India tour

David Warner will surely hold the key for the visiting Australian side in the upcoming Test series. Australia have had a tough time in the subcontinental conditions in the recent past. They were whitewashed by Sri Lanka last year when they toured the subcontinent. Their last visit to India was not fruitful either. As most people reckon, Warner certainly will be the man for the Australia if they wish to turn the fortunes in the series against India this year.

India, on the other hand, look like a very settled unit. They have been in scintillating form in the recent past and have been undefeated in Test cricket since 2016. One man who has been the pillar stone for their success story has been off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin, the number one ranked ICC Test bowler, has been tormenting the opposition batsmen in the home conditions at will.

David Warner is very well aware of this fact. As per the quotes in India Today, he recently mentioned that he is all geared up for the Ashwin challenge in the Test series. Talking about the same, he quoted, “I have to respect a player like Ashwin. He thinks like a batsman and I have to be disciplined against him. I have a game plan for him – I have to bat against his strength. He is going to be ready for me and we both have to adopt to the situation. It’s going to be a great battle for the both of us. I have to bide my time.”

While Ashwin has been the man for India with the ball, it has been skipper Virat Kohli who has been the juggernaut with the bat. Warner was in full praise for the Indian batsman and called him a fantastic player.

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Speaking on Virat Kohli, Warner remarked, “Virat Kohli is in the form of the decade. He is a fantastic player and a great sport. He is exceptional in all formats and he is taking the entire country on a journey. He wants the country to ride with him. Virat is frank and he calls spade a spade. Joe Root, Steve Smith, Faf du Plessis and Kohli thrive on responsibility. These young players are unstoppable. Virat is a great example of scoring big tons.”

While the series is expected to be a closely contested one, a few on-field banters are expected to heat up during the series. The Aussies are renowned for sledging the opposition. The new look India team under Virat Kohli has also not been short on being expressive.

Commenting on the sledging aspect, the Aussie opener opined, “Sledging can work both ways with Virat. Great players know how to deal with it. We have to find a way of getting into the opposition’s minds. It could be banter or field placements. It is actually playing your brand of cricket. Sledging or banter is just one of the ways to upset the opposition.”