Even in these uncertain times, with all immediate international and domestic cricket fixtures suspended because of the deadly COVID-19 outbreak, Australian players are thinking of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scheduled for next home summer. Especially pondering how Indian captain Virat Kohli might shape up if the four-Test series is safe to go through but behind empty stadiums.
Bigger the occasion, the more Kohli tend to flourish, as seen in previous Indian trips to the Aussie shores. But the home side is eager to see the great batsman would motivate himself at the crease without any crowd presence.
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"He is probably good enough to adapt to any scenario. But I was talking to Mitch Starc the other day and we actually said that if we are playing with no crowd, it'll be quite amazing to see Virat trying to rev up the empty seats," cricket.com.au quoted off-spinner Nathan Lyon as saying.
"It is going to be a little bit different, but Virat is a superstar. He will be able to adapt to any climate that we are able to play in."
Lyon hailed the Australia-India Test rivalry among the biggest in the sport.
"I am excited about the prospect of India coming out to Australia, it's up there with the biggest series alongside the Ashes," he said. "They are an absolute powerhouse of the cricket world, and to have those guys out here is going to be fantastic."
"Playing in front of crowds or no crowds is out of our control, we have got to follow the advice of all the amazing medical people around the world."
The Aussies lost the series 2-1 the last time India went there during the 2018-19 season. But unlike the last trip, the visitors will have to also tackle the mighty David Warner and Steve Smith in the home team line-up after return from their ban for involvement in the ball-tampering saga.
"I have not thought about no crowds or massive crowds, it is just about the opportunity of playing against India again. They had the wood over us last time they came over here but we are a much stronger Australian cricket side at the moment, and I am just unbelievably excited about playing them here at home," Lyon added.
(Inputs from cricket.com.au)
