Team India aren’t just about Jasprit Bumrah or a Virat Kohli. The entire squad is “incredibly talented” which makes matters tougher for the opponents, Australia’s premier off-spinner Nathan Lyon pointed out.
“I look at the Indian squad and see a group of superstars. Cricket, however, is a team game, and winning requires the entire side to perform well. India boast extraordinary players like Bumrah and others, but it’s not just about the superstars,” Lyon said on Wednesday, ahead of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
“The rest of the Indian squad is also incredibly talented. They’re an incredible cricket team. We’re not focusing solely on any one player, that’s for sure.”
Despite India’s strength, Australia will be focusing on playing their “brand of cricket”, Lyon emphasised. “We have nothing but respect for every Indian cricketer who takes the field on Friday. However, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to compete.
“We respect them, but we’re determined to play our brand of cricket and compete hard against a quality side. For sure India are one of the best teams in the world,” Lyon said.
Senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has 536 Test wickets, could not find space in India’s playing XI in Perth with the tourists opting to play all-rounder Washington Sundar as their sole spinner. “That more than surprises me,” Lyon commented.
“But look at the quality of cricketers that India have got in their squad. You’ve got Ashwin with 530-odd wickets and then you got Ravindra Jadeja over 300 wickets or whatever it may be. So, it’s pretty remarkable to see the quality of players that are sitting on the bench.
“But I can’t control who they run out or include (in the XI). But it would be a good challenge, no matter who they bring out,” Lyon added.
Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy displayed his attacking instincts by taking on Lyon, hitting him for quite a few boundaries in Perth. “I wasn’t surprised. But yet again, it provides opportunities for me to hopefully take a few chances along the way,” Lyon said.