Quantcast

Khawaja called up for IPL stint

Left-hander drafted in by Pune Supergiants following injuries to Kevin Pietersen and Faf du Plessis

Rising Pune Supergiants have added a sixth Australian to their squad following today's announcement that Usman Khawaja will join them for the remainder of the Indian Premier League season.

Tournament-ending injuries to Kevin Pietersen (calf) and Faf du Plessis (finger) has seen the new franchise turn to the Australian, who will play in the IPL for the first time.

Quick Single: Pune's injury woes worsen

An unsuspecting Khawaja was "chilling" at home when he got the call from Pune last week to take Pietersen's place after the Englishman went down with a season-ending torn calf muscle last Friday. 

Pune's woes were compounded by news of the injury to Du Plessis and while Khawaja hasn't played a competitive game of cricket since Australia's final match at the World T20 a month ago, he's confident he can hit the ground running when he arrives on the subcontinent.

"I'm not the kind of guy that needs to hit a lot of balls to feel good," Khawaja told cricket.com.au.

"I hit a few balls today, I'll hit a few balls again and I'll be ready to go.

WATCH: Aussies star as Pune grab crucial win

"Even during the season I don't hit a lot of balls. At training I'm usually out (of the nets) pretty quick. I do all my bulk training out of season.

"I didn't feel too much different. That's a good thing – I was still whacking them, I still felt good.

"I'm pretty confident (of performing immediately). At the end of the day you've just got to watch the ball."

In between unwinding and playing rounds of golf since the World T20, Khawaja said he's been keeping his up his fitness and rehab on his troublesome hamstrings. 

He will join fellow Australians Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa, Peter Handscomb and Scott Boland at the Pune franchise.

Australia skipper and soon-to-be teammate Smith said he is excited to have his Test No.3 joining him.

"Losing Kevin (Pietersen), he's a quality player, but he's getting replaced by another very good player," Smith told cricket.com.au.

"He (Khawaja) has been in great touch and he's just class.

"It will be nice to have another Aussie around and a good player at the same time."

There was perhaps no hotter player than Khawaja last summer.

WATCH: Khawaja fires with BBL century

The 29-year-old was in imperious form for the Sydney Thunder in their triumphant KFC Big Bash League season, posting scores of 109no, 62, 104no and 70 in his four matches to average 172.5 for the tournament.

His stunning run in all formats of the game forced his selection in Australia's World T20 squad.

Khawaja opened in every match and finished the campaign as Australia's leading run-scorer, averaging 35.75 with a top score of 58.

"His presence will definitely be an advantage to the team and could be pivotal in bolstering the position of the side in the tournament," said Pune coach Stephen Fleming.

"His imperious form for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League victory last season and being the leading run-scorer for Australia for the recently-concluded World T20, has made us sit up and notice.

"His style of play is perfect for the T20 format."

Khawaja will be hoping to make an instant impact at the Supergiants, who have won just two of their first six matches.