The Australian summer begins in earnest at 00:00 GMT on Thursday with a slightly different look to it this year with the first Test, traditionally held at the Gabba in Brisbane, now staged in Adelaide.
That won't bother the Indians, though, as the Gabba can be an intimidating venue for touring teams and it is no surprise that Australia's recent record there is so impressive.
Historically, Adelaide has been one of the flattest wickets in Australia and its baking hot temperatures have meant that bowlers, particularly the seamers, have found the going tough on a surface that hasn't had a great deal of pace in it.
The decision to stage the day/night Test of last year's Ashes series there meant that the seamers were able to garner more assistance from the Adelaide surface, but that generally came when the lights took effect and James Anderson was able to get the pink ball moving sideways.
New groundsman Damian Hough has made a concerted effort to get more pace into the pitch and encourage a more even contest between bat and ball, though it is hard to believe it will be 'Gabba' quick come Thursday.
Khawaja has always looked a special player in the making - a natural stroke-maker with a cover drive that has a look of David Gower - and though it took a little bit of time for the penny to drop, he looks to be there now and we can expect his career average of 43.83 to continue on an upward curve over the next few years.
Khawaja's Achilles heel had always been spinning pitches in the subcontinent but an arduous new fitness regime and the backing of Langer and Paine saw him thrive on the recent tour to Dubai.
The left-hander scored more runs than anyone in that series - 229 at an average of 76.33 - and his heroic 141 in the first Test ensured his side secured a remarkable draw having looked down and out early on the fifth day.
What has never been in question is Khawaja's ability to prosper on home soil - his average rises to almost 60 in Australia, with five hundreds - and with his form and fitness in as good a place as ever, another big summer should be on the cards for the 31-year-old.
With his batting colleagues - Aaron Finch, Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh - all trying to find their way at this level, and Shaun Marsh coming into this series on the back of a lean run of form in Test cricket, the case for Khawaja is rock solid and the extra responsibility he now finds placed on his shoulders appears to be sitting well.
If I can find a negative to his Khawaja's chance, it would be the success India's seam attack enjoyed against England's left-handed batsmen earlier this year but those bowlers enjoyed plenty of assistance from conditions on that tour and shouldn't be so fortunate here.
Furthermore, Khawaja isn't the only left-hander in the Australian batting line-up but he is easily the best and that will do for me.