The debate between Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon always gets hotter ahead of any series that the two teams play against each other in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While the two legendary off-spinners enjoy a warm relationship off the field, their on-field rivalry is as fierce as it gets, with both competing aggressively to outdo the other on the field of play to give their respective teams the much-needed victory.
Australia’s drought without a Test series win against India can be significantly attributed to the brilliance of Ashwin. In this series, Ashwin was sublime in the recently concluded version of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He finished as the leading wicket-taker of the series, with 25 scalps from four matches and was equally good in the series in 2020-21, where he took 12 wickets in three matches to finish as India’s second-highest wicket-taker.
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His batting too was important in the series. That raison d’etre now assumes significance as both are likely to go up against each other in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting November 22.
Despite all the rivalry, Nathan Lyon went on to compliment Ashwin. He spoke about the time both started their careers roughly the same time and spoke in glowing terms about Ashwin’s mastery over off-spin bowling. Lyon, the sportsman he is, called Ashwin an absolute master of his work.
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“Ashwin and I know that we have debuted around the same time, and we have been competing in quite a few series now. I have got nothing but respect for him. I love watching him bowl; he is an absolute master in this craft of off-spin bowling, and it has been an absolute privilege playing against him, learning from him,” Nathan Lyon told Star Sports.
Lyon further elaborated, “I have always said throughout my career I want to compete against the best, and when you look at the Indian line-up, there are superstars everywhere. You want to challenge yourself against them…
