Australia's ace spinner Nathan Lyon is still trying to comprehend why R Ashwin wasn't there in India's playing XI in the first Test in Perth, which the visitors ended up winning by 295 runs.
R Ashwin's absence in Perth Test surprises Nathan Lyon
Lyon expressed his surprise at Ashwin's exclusion in the series opener and also acknowledged the superstar spinner's big contribution to the Indian team and his ability to perform well in Australian conditions.
"More than surprises me. But the quality of Indian cricketers that they got in that squad, don't they? You've got Ashwin and 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 player tha are sitting on the bench. But I can't control with who they run out, bu it would be a good challenge, no matter who they bring out," Lyon said in the pre-match press conference ahead of Adelaide Test which is set to start from December 6.
Not just Ashwin, even Ravindra Jadeja didn't feature in India's playing XI in the first Test. The exclusion of Ashwin and Jadeja was left many surprised, the fans and the Australian cricket experts alike, especially knowing how big a threat the duo is for Australia. Talking about their track records, Ashwin has pocketed 536 wickets riding on 37 fifers and also has amassed 3474 runs in Tests so far. Meanwhile, Jadeja has scalped 319 wickets topped with 15 wickets and has amassed 3235 runs.
However, India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar earlier said that India are lucky to have senior players who keep their team before their personal goals.
"It is only tough when you have seniors who do not understand it. When you have seniors like Jaddu and Ashwin, who understand what the team is trying to do, I think it becomes very easy. The team follows what Gauti bhai believes in. We were very happy with how Ashwin and Jaddu were helping the younger guys do well here. I just felt that the culture of the team was focused on team India to win," Abhishek Nayar said in Canberra on November 29.
Meanwhile, the Australian media has been fixated on certain Indian players amidst ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025, but the Australian cricket team surely has a different perspective. Veteran Nathan Lyon clarified that the team's focus is not limited to specific individuals but encompasses the entire Indian squad.
During the press conference, Lyon was also questioned about the excessive attention paid to players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. He dismissed these claims and acknowledged the depth and talent within the Indian team.
"I look at the Indian squad and see a group of superstars. Cricket, however, is a team game-winning requires the entire side to perform well. India boasts extraordinary players like Bumrah and others, but it's not just about the superstars. 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," Lyon further stated.
Lyon also expressed Australia's intent to play their best cricket against India in the upcoming pink-ball Test.
"We have nothing but respect for every Indian cricketer who takes the field on Friday. 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. India is one of the best teams in the world," he concluded.
