Australia's veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been successful against star Indian batter Virat Kohli in Test cricket, dismissing him seven times. Recalling the feelings he felt when he faced another Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, and despite doing much better against the former India skipper, he enjoys the 'challenge' posed by Kohli.
While remembering one of the wickets of Kohli Lyon had bagged, he compared it to that of Tendulkar and said that the whole stadium and the fans in the home crowd went silent, making him feel like he had committed a crime.
"Coming up against Virat Kohli, it feels like you've got the nation against you. If you've got a little bit of success and get Virat out or create a chance, you become the most hated cricketer in world cricket quite quickly. I've had a little bit of experience on that front bowling to Sachin Tendulkar a number of years ago now," Lyon said in a recent interaction with Star Sports.
The respect Kohli that Lyon holds for Kohli is plenty, and the off-spinner considers him to be his 'best challenge' in cricket. The star Indian batter was caught down the leg-side off the bowling of debutant Todd Murphy, but Lyon, who has had some success against Kohli in the past, knows that you can't afford to lose focus when bowling to the India legend.
"Virat has probably been one of the best in world cricket for a long period of time, for him to constantly perform at a high level. It's been a privilege to play against him and compete. I've always said that I want to compete against the best in the world and Virat probably has provided me with the best challenge," he added.
Lyon also praised Ravichandran Ashwin, saying that the Indian veteran regularly shares knowledge with him despite all the outside talks about a rivalry between the two spinners.
"There's a lot of talk. Lots he has taught me about. Sitting down and speaking to him, there's been a lot that he's taught me and that's just not for here but even in Australia. There are a couple of skill sets that Ash has that I would like to develop. That's why I feel like I can still get better. So that's what's driving me," he said.
