India vs Australia: How David Warner has struggled in India

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Australia opener David Warner is a veteran of 101 Test matches in which he has scored 8132 runs at an average of 46.20. He recently scored a double hundred while playing his 100th match at the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against South Africa. The 'Bull' of the decorated Australian cricket team has as many as 25 hundreds and 34 fifties to his name in the red-ball format, however, his numbers in India tell a different story.

Warner Test numbers in India

After his 1-run dismissal against India on Day of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur on Thursday, the 36-year-old southpaw is averaging a paltry 22.88 in nine matches (17 innings). He has scored 389 runs which included three fifties. A three-figure score has deluded the southpaw till date.

Warner record in subcontinent

Warner has struggled throughout the subcontinent nations. In Sri Lanka he averages 25.22 in five matches and 33.80 in three matches against Pakistan. In Bangladesh he has found some success with 251 runs in two matches at an average of 62.75. Overall, the New South Wales batter has 21 matches in Asia and scored 1275 runs at an average of 32.69. The numbers are in complete contrast when compared to his records in Oceania and Africa. In Oceania, he has scored 5179 runs at an average of 56.90. In Africa, Warner averages 63.33 in six matches.

On Thursday, a battled between Warner and India spinners was anticipated but he was back in the pavilion even before the completion of the third over. A delivery which nipped back in sharply sent Warner's off-stump flying in the air. Prior to his 17th Test dismissal in India, Warner had lost his wicket six times off right-arm off-spinners and four times he had fell prey to left-arm orthodox.

Considering that the series is just starting and Warner has already flunked badly in his first outing, the signs are not good for him. He has made some massive comebacks in the past but breaching the challenge India possess in home conditions won't at all be easy again.

Analaysing Warner's struggles in India. cricket-turned-commentator Akash Chopra recently explained that his playing style suits bouncy pitches where his lack of footwork and the trait of playing through the line works. However, in the Indian conditions the ball stops and stays low. The same does not allow a batter like Warner to play through the line or on the bounce.