Australia’s veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon expressed surprise at the reaction of some Indian players after they avoided the follow-on on Day Four of the third Test at the Gabba. India’s last-wicket partnership between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep helped them avert a potential innings defeat. When Akash’s thick edge off Pat Cummins went for four, it sparked jubilant celebrations among Indian captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and star batter Virat Kohli.

Lyon shared that he and a few teammates were surprised by India’s reaction, stating, “We’ve played well and put ourselves in a good position, so it's frustrating. But we are still ahead by 185 runs, and if we bat well, we can push for an Australian win.”

He acknowledged the challenges posed by the weather, which had disrupted play, especially after losing Josh Hazlewood to a calf strain. “We can’t control the weather, but we can control our process,” he said. Lyon also mentioned the difficulty of enforcing the follow-on due to the absence of Hazlewood, adding, “It looked like India's top order didn't want to bat if we enforced the follow-on.”

Commenting on India’s use of three different spinners in the series, Lyon expressed his surprise that Ravichandran Ashwin had not played more. “With 530 Test wickets, it’s hard to understand why Ashwin isn’t playing,” Lyon said. “He's one of the best spin bowlers in the world, and I expect him to play in Melbourne and Sydney.”

Lyon also spoke highly of India’s bowling depth, noting that having Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja as options was a “good headache” for the Indian team. He respected Ashwin’s skills and professionalism, and added that they have had valuable discussions about tactics and bowling variations.

Reflecting on his own career, Lyon recalled the advice he gave himself before his debut in 2011: “Trust yourself.” He expressed gratitude for the support he received from the Australian team, particularly from captain Michael Clarke and the experienced players around him.

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