It almost felt like a reunion of two long-lost frenemies. Rishabh Pant smashed Nathan Lyon to all parts in the 2020/21 series in Australia and even in the 2018/19 one. However, both the players have had great mutual respect and rapport over the years. Pant hit a couple of shots against Lyon on the first day of the opening Test in Perth on Friday, November 22 but there were a few things said between the two, even though just in zest.
Lyon brought up the IPL auction in the conversation as he went past Pant during one of the overs. "Where we going in the auction?" Lyon asked Pant while passing him. Pant had a smile on his face before calmly responding, "No idea."
Watch the video here:
Pant, who scored a measured 37, is expected to rake in moolah at the two-day IPL auction in Jeddah on November 24 and 25. Pant is one of the 12 marquee players on the auction shortlist and is touted to be the most expensive player in this year's auction. Pant was released by Delhi Capitals ahead of the mega auction and as the wicketkeeper-batter recently revealed, money wasn't the reason behind his non-retention.
Not just Pant, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul were three Indian captains to be released by their respective franchises. With five teams looking for captains, all three will be in massive demand.
As for the match, India were bowled out for a paltry score of 150. Pant, debutant Nitish Reddy and KL Rahul were the only three batters in the Indian line-up to survive magnificent Australian bowling. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets as Aussie pacers kept bowling in that channel of uncertainty and got the rewards. India have started well with three quick wickets but need a lot more to bowl Australia out cheaply.
