Premier Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon was in his element on the opening day of the Adelaide D/N pink-ball encounter on Thursday (December 17). 

Lyon imparted a lot of over-spin on the ball and forced batsmen of the class of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara to be on their toes throughout. 

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He controlled one end for the Australian pacemen to be rotated well and eventually came back with figures of 1/68 off his 21 overs, including the prized scalp of Pujara on 43. 

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes, with the form he is showing, Lyon will remain a "massive threat" for the opposition batsmen throughout the series. 

"He’s had as much success as any spinner, I think, against India over the years. He’s got Virat Kohli out (in Tests) more than anybody in the history of the game, he looked like he troubled Pujara a lot today," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"The right-handers now that come out to bat against him – he gets so much over-spin on the ball when you’ve got fielders around the bat – they must feel like they’re going to get out every ball."

"He builds pressure, he bowls very few bad balls so he’ll be a massive threat for them."

Lyon threatened both sides of the edge and by keeping a check on run-scoring from his end, ensured the Indians never get away from the Aussies after winning the toss and batting first. The home team eventually dismissed the visitors for 244 early on Day 2. 

"I think it’s more about trying to challenge both edges of the bat," Ponting said. "When he creates the angle from wide and angles back in, that really only challenges the inside half of the bat and a glove whereas if he can get it out a little bit wider (off the crease), it brings the catch at slip in play."

"It brings a bat-pad off-side catch into play and if you get the extra bounce, like Pujara’s wicket, you can still get the wicket at leg slip as well. Small adjustments, we’re only talking four or six inches, but it has so much more effect."

(Inputs from PTI)