Nathan Lyon ripped through the Indian batting line-up and brought his spin prowess to the fore in the third Test against India in Indore on Thursday (March 2). Lyon followed up his first innings' three-wicket with an incredible eight-wicket hall in the second innings to make Indian batters dance to his tunes. Rohit Sharma's brigade are staring at a potential defeat as Australia need just 76 runs to pocket the third Test and become the first team to make it to the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-2023 final. Riding on Lyon's back-to-back inroads, Australia first broke Indian batters' back on Day 1 on the rank-turner pitch to bowl the hosts out for paltry 109. They came back again to pester Indian batters for measly 163 in the second innings on Day 2 on Thursday (March 2) as they now need just 76 runs to win the third Test to mark a stunning comeback in the four-match series which now stands at 2-0.
Meanwhile, Lyon (23.3-1-64-8) has stormed into history books as he leapfrogged India's ace spinners Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin to bag a rare milestone in the Border-Gavaskar series. Lyon has now become the bowler with wickets in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The top-notch spinner, who has 102 scalps against his name before the start of the third Test. Now with three wickets in the first innings and eight-wickets in the second he has took his wicket tally on Border-Gavaskar series to 113 in 25 matches to top the chart. Meanwhile, legendary India spinner Kumble now holds second spot with 111 scalps.
No. 3 on the list is Ashwin, who has 106 scalps against his name in 21 Tests so far. However, Ashwin will have a chance to go past Lyon in the fourth innings on Day 3. As far as rest of the list is concerned, India's spin wizard Harbhajan Singh holds the fourth spot with 95 scalps while Ravindra Jadeja is no.5 as he has snared 84 wickets so far in Border Gavaskar series. Lyon, Ashwin and Jadeja are the only active players who are in the race of most wickets in the Border-Gavaskar series.
It will be interesting to see what the Day 3 has in store for India and Australia as a win will give a major boost to Australia who are playing without their star players Pat Cummins and David Warner while India's defeat will put a halt on Rohit invincible streak as India's Test skipper.
ALSO READ:
Watch: Steve Smith grabs one-handed wonder to give Pujara marching order on Day 2 of 2nd Test
IND vs AUS: Nathan Lyon’s record-breaking 8-fer eclipses Cheteshwar Pujara’s fighting knock, Australia need 76 to win
