Nathan Lyon names 3 'big' Indian batters who could challenge Australia in upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Veteran Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has picked Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant as the three 'big' Indian batters who could pose a major challenge to Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He added that the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja make India's batting line-up formidable.
India will take on Australia in five Tests as part of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy from November 22 to January 7. The series will begin in Perth and conclude with the New Year Test in Sydney.
Speaking to Star Sports, Lyon shared his thoughts on India's impressive batting line-up and picked three danger men. He said (as quoted by TOI):
"Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant are probably going to be the three really big ones."
"But then you have still got Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and who else will come out--another five, I am not sure. But it is a pretty amazing line-up they have got, so it is going to be a massive challenge. As I said, if we, as a bowling group, are good enough for long periods, hopefully, we can challenge their defense," the veteran spinner went on to add.
Significantly, India have beaten Australia in the last two away series in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
Nathan Lyon's record against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Lyon (36) is the leading wicket-taker in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In 26 Test matches, he has picked up 116 wickets at an average of 32.40, with nine five-fers. Overall, he has 530 scalps in 129 Tests, averaging 30.20.
Looking at the records of India's 'big three' against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli has 1979 runs in 24 matches at an average of 48.26, with eight hundreds and five half-centuries.
As for India captain Rohit, he has played 11 Tests against the Aussies and has 650 runs to his name at an average of 34.21, with one hundred and three fifties. Shifting focus to keeper-batter Pant, he was one of the heroes of India's 2-1 Test triumph Down Under in 2020-21. The left-hander batter has scored 624 runs against Australia in seven Tests, averaging 62.40, with one ton and two fifties.