Veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has expressed his admiration for Rishabh Pant, emphasizing that there is no room for error when bowling to the dynamic Indian wicketkeeper-batter. Lyon acknowledged Pant’s exceptional talent, which allows him to challenge even the strongest bowling attacks in the world.
Pant, who will be a crucial part of India’s batting lineup for the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar series starting in Perth on November 22, recently made a remarkable return to Test cricket. After a near-fatal car crash in December 2022 that kept him out of action for nearly 21 months, Pant marked his comeback with a sensational century against Bangladesh in the first Test at Chennai, further highlighting his resilience and ability to perform on the big stage.
"You're bowling against someone like Rishabh Pant, who is electric. He's got all the skills in the world," Lyon, who has snared 530 Test scalps and will be expected to play a key role in the series against India, told Star Sports.
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"As a bowler, your room for error is so small. So, you've got to be good. It's a challenge as a bowler if I'm going to get hit for six," added the 36-year-old Lyon.
Pant has been magnificent in the last two Test series against Australia, accumulating 624 runs in 12 innings at an average of 62.40, including a century and two half-tons with a top score of 159 not out.
The wicketkeeper-batter had slammed an unbeaten 89 in the second innings of the Brisbane Test in 2021 as Australia went on to lose its first Test at the venue in 32 years, even as India sealed the series 2-1 to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Lyon said he would try to push Pant on the back-foot and get him to commit a few mistakes.
"I'm not afraid of getting hit for a six. The challenge is that I can provide the batters and try and keep someone like Rishabh in his crease and potentially try and get him to defend me a lot more... and, hopefully, bring a couple of chances along the way."