Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21: Nathan Lyon plays mind games with Rohit Sharma

India and Australia will lock horns in the third Test, in Sydney, from Thursday. India defends the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as the series is currently locked 1-1. Sydney would also see Rohit Sharma's return, who had missed out of the opening two Tests due to hamstring strain.

Things would only get intense hereon, as India and Australia lock horns in the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), from Thursday, for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, currently locked at 1-1. Meanwhile, the Test would also see the return of senior Indian opener, Rohit Sharma.

Rohit had missed out of the opening two Tests owing to a hamstring strain, that he suffered during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. However, ahead of his return, Australian spinner, Nathan Lyon has begun mind games against the former, as he has warned that Australia will have plans ready to restrict him.

"Obviously, Rohit Sharma is one of the best players in the world going around, so it is going to be a big challenge for us bowlers, but we are going to show our way from it, we love challenging ourself. He (Rohit) is a big input for Indian side, so it is going to be interesting to see who they leave out. But, we will have our plans ready for Rohit, and hopefully, we can get on top of him nice and early, but respecting how good a cricketer Rohit is," said Lyon during a press conference, reports PTI.

Amidst mind games, Lyon also brought up the fact and lauded that skipper Ajinkya Rahane hardly indulges in on-field sledging. "He (Rahane) is obviously a world-class batter, which obviously helps with everything. I think the patience that he shows at the crease, he doesn't seem to get (frustrated) much," he said.

"He (Rahane) doesn't buy into any sledging or any conservation out there in the middle, he is pretty calm and collective batter (of the) opposition, so it is few different things that he offers.... But, he is obviously leader of India at the moment as Virat (Kohli) is not here, so he is standing up at the moment and I know we will have our plans ready to hopefully combat him come the SCG Test," added Lyon.

Lyon also spoke about plans to counter Rahane, the top scorer in Melbourne (112). "I think (Ajinkya) Rahane played me extremely well in Melbourne, so I know I am going to come up with a couple of different plans for him and a few different guys, so I am looking forward to putting them in place," he reckoned.

Speaking on the overall performance of Indian batting, Lyon evaluated, "I think they (Indian batsmen) have played me pretty similar. Every series I come up against India, they try to be quite attacking."