New Delhi: The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is around the corner and the excitement has reached to the hilt. There is much at stakes for players from both ends and crucial points are up for grab with the World Test Championship final spot in the foresight.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was instrumental for his side in the series-decider Test in Brisbane. It was his marvelous unbeaten 89 that led India’s charge in the 328-run chase against a formidable Australian bowling unit.
Pant will once again be key for the tourists as they hope to win at least four Test matches to confirm their WTC berth at Lord’s in June. The one Australian bowler to target on Pant’s mind could be their veteran spinner Nathan Lyon. This will be an interesting battle for the spectators from both ends as the two haven’t faced each other since the historic Gabba Test.
Here we breakdown the numbers before you watch the battle between Rishabh Pant and Nathan Lyon in the forthcoming five-match Test series.
Rishabh Pant vs Nathan Lyon: Head-to-head record – Runs, Dismissals, fours, sixes, dot balls
Rishabh Pant and Nathan Lyon have faced each other in six Test matches so far. It started with Pant’s first tour of Australia during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Interestingly, Pant has faced Lyon in all six Test matches in Australia only and the streak will continue this summer.
Pant has scored 229 runs off 347 balls bowled by Lyon across 12 Test innings. The southpaw holds an average of 45.8 and a strike rate of 66 against Lyon. The Australian off-spinner, in return, has dismissed the swashbuckling Indian player five times in total. Pant has played 227 dot balls in this battle while smashing 19 boundaries and seven sixes.
In his first two Test matches in Australia in 2018 in Adelaide and Perth, Pant was dismissed by Lyon in all four innings, making him question over his ability to play spin. Since then the 27-year-old has earned plaudits for playing counter-attacking knocks, particularly against the spin attack.
Lyon has been the leading wicket-taker of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 116 scalps at 32.40. He will certainly bank on his shrewdness to outsmart the Indian gloveman this time.
Rishabh Pant will once again be key for the tourists as they hope to win at least four Test matches to confirm their WTC berth at Lord’s in June. The one Australian bowler to target on Pant’s mind could be their veteran spinner Nathan Lyon. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
