Khawaja Bids Emotional SCG Farewell After Final Test Innings

An emotional Usman Khawaja walked off the SCG outfield one last time, kissing the turf and soaking in a standing ovation as his Test career came to a close – not with a fairytale finish on the scorecard, but with a deep sense of gratitude.

No Perfect Ending, But a Complete Khawaja Story

Ahead of his 88th and final Test, Khawaja was asked what a dream finish would look like. His answer was pure perspective: the fairytale, for him, was already complete. A Pakistan-born kid who grew up in Australia, fought perceptions and prejudice, and returned from the wilderness to become a mainstay of the top order – that arc, he felt, needed no final flourish.

The script in Sydney seemed set up for a heroic unbeaten knock in a successful chase. Instead, the left-hander fell short of that cinematic final act, reminding fans that even the great careers don’t always end with Dhoni-style sixes or Virat Kohli-esque chases.

What stood out was how visibly he battled his emotions – the lingering look at the stands, the kiss on the pitch, the hug from teammates. For Indian fans who watched his hundreds in Asia and his battles against Team India, Khawaja will be remembered as a rare blend: wristy elegance, immense patience, and a calm presence at the crease.

"I think the fairytale’s already done. I don’t think it matters how many runs I score." — Usman Khawaja

The numbers will say he retired just shy of 100 Tests, but the legacy feels far bigger – a player who redefined perseverance in Australian cricket and left a mark that goes well beyond runs and averages.