TOI Sports Desk
NEW DELHI: Veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon believes there is very little margin for error when bowling to Rishabh Pant.
Lyon noted that Pant possesses an extraordinary amount of talent capable of challenging the best bowlers in the world.
Pant will be a crucial component of the Indian batting line-up during the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar series starting in Perth on November 22.
The 26-year-old Pant recently returned to Test cricket after a hiatus of nearly 21 months, following a near-fatal car crash in December 2022. He marked his return with a century against Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai.
“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.
“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 outstanding in the last two Test series against Australia, accumulating 624 runs in 12 innings at an average of 62.40. This includes a century and two half-centuries, with a top score of 159 not out.
The wicketkeeper-batter scored an unbeaten 89 in the second innings of the Brisbane Test in 2021, leading India to a historic victory. This marked Australia’s first Test loss at the venue in 32 years, resulting in India sealing the series 2-1 and retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Lyon mentioned that his strategy would involve pushing Pant on the back foot to provoke 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.”