‘We tried to put him (Lyon) under pressure. But I don’t think he was under any’, admits Gill after 4th IND-AUS Test ends in draw
India opener Shubman Gill, who notched up a ton in the fourth India-Australia Test in Ahmedabad, admitted that while the Indian batters tried to put the visiting side’s star off spinner Nathan Lyon under pressure, they couldn’t.
“We tried to put him under pressure. But I don’t think he was under any pressure,” Gill said at the end of the fourth Test on Monday. “I think the pacers bowled well, But he doesn’t give you many areas you know. He doesn’t give you much half volleys or short balls. It is important for you to be patient and take the singles. When you’re batting it is more about the bowlers. He takes the pressure.”
He further added, “To be honest, I think, on this wicket in this wicket you are not bowling in the roughs, there is nothing for the bowlers. The kept bowling in the wickets and I played my shots.”
Lyon was Australia’s leading wicket taker in the series with 19 scalps in the four games, second behind Ravindra Jadeja (21) and the player of the match in Indore as his side pulled one back after losing the first two Tests.
India 🇮🇳 🤝🏻 Australia 🇦🇺
The final Test ends in a draw as #TeamIndia win the Border-Gavaskar series 2-1 🏆#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/dwwuLhQ1UT
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 13, 2023
“It has been a tough challenge,” Lyon remarked afterwards. “Obviously coming over here, in India, we know it is going to be tough but it has been rewarding, our group can take a lot out of it. There are some areas we can improve but there are some proud moments along the way. Totally different surface, didn’t really have much in it and it was pretty hard work to bowl out here. It can be quite challenging but it is up to us as bowlers to try and get the guys caught in the crease and make them play false shots. Totally different to the first three pitches, lot compacted and not many footmarks.”
The off spinner also said that while they had an eye on the New Zealand-Sri Lanka match in Chrchurch on Monday, they knew it would be India facing them in the 2023 World Test Championship Final, which turned out to be the case as the Black Caps beat Sri Lanka two wickets in a thriller.
“We were watching the score (NZ-SL game) but we kinda knew we were going to face India in the final. It is going to be pretty exciting, we have got a really good lead up into it, a bit of time off and then some preparation, but looking forward to it.”
Aside from Lyon, Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann also combined for 19 wickets in the spin department for Australia.
“I feel I have been able to play a big role in the start of their (Murphy and Kuhnemann) Test journey, I know Matty is keen to have a word with Jadeja tonight, they should head home pretty proud on what they have achieved, it is no easy feat to bowl against the best players of spin,” Lyon said.
With Australia having eight wickets in hand and Stumps time closing in both the captains Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith decided to shake hands on the last day of the Ahmedabad Test and call it a draw. India won the series 2-1, there fourth consecutive Border Gavaskar Trophy win the same margin.
