"Your room for error is so small" - Nathan Lyon on his battle with Rishabh Pant ahead of IND vs AUS 2024-25 Test series
Veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has opened up on his battle with Indian keeper-batter Rishabh Pant ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series later this year. While the New South Wales bowler said it's fun to come across the left-hander, he reckons there is very little room for error against him.
Pant has enjoyed his battles with the Aussie bowler thus far in the two series both have faced off in. The off-spinner has got the better of the 26-year-old on five occasions. However, Pant averages 45.80 against his bowling alongside a strike rate of 65.99. It is likely to be one of the series-defining battles in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
Speaking to Star Sports, Lyon reflected that the southpaw has got all the skills in the world, but is not afraid even if he gets hit for a six. He said:
"Bowling to someone like Rishabh Pant - he is electric, isn't he? He's got all the skill in the world. As a bowler, your room for error is so small, so you got to be good. It's a challenge. As a bowler, if I get hit for a six, I'm not afraid.
"As a challenge, I should try and keep someone like Rishabh in his crease and potentially try to get him to defend it and hopefully, create chances on the way. But it's pretty fun."
The 36-year-old was the highest wicket-taker during the last Test series held between the two sides as he took 22 scalps in four Tests at 22.36.
"I'm extremely hungry to turn things around" - Nathan Lyon
With Australia losing the last four Test series to India, Lyon declared that he is hungry to see them regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He had said earlier, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:
"It's been ten years of unfinished business, it's been a long time, and I know we're extremely hungry to turn things around especially here at home. Don't get me wrong, India is an absolute superstar side and extremely challenging but I'm extremely hungry to turn things around and make sure we get that trophy back."
The first of the five Tests between India and Australia begins on November 22 in Perth.