Team India cricketer and commentator Dinesh Karthik on Tuesday named the two biggest threats for Rohit Sharma & Co will face in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. Team India will be taking on Australia in a crucial 4-matches Test series named Border-Gavaskar 2023 Trophy. The four matches Test series will kickstart on February 9, 2023, in which India will lock horns with Australia in a bid to qualify for the World Test Championship final. Dinesh Karthik on Tuesday interacted with the fans on social media in a #AskDK session and came out with multiple hilarious replies. However, Karthik's answer on two biggest threats for Team India in the upcoming Test series raised many eyebrows.
A fan asked Dinesh Karthik on Twitter and wrote, 'Biggest threat for India in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy'. Karthik gave a swift response and stated, "Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith"
Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith #AskDK https://t.co/THLnW4KXlN
— DK (@DineshKarthik) February 7, 2023
Another fan asked that should Team India go with 4 spinners, Karthik replied as a big no. Another fan asked, "Who would you choose as your five bowlers for the Nagpur Test? " Karthik replied, "Will share my probable XI for the first Test soon on my insta"
Nope 👎 #AskDK https://t.co/UzwtfYD7hL
— DK (@DineshKarthik) February 7, 2023
Will share my probable XI for the first Test soon on my insta 🔜 https://t.co/VR4HL97wHn
— DK (@DineshKarthik) February 7, 2023
Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith's records in India
Lyon's record in India is impressive - 34 wickets in seven Tests at 30.58 - but he has improved over time: in 2012-13, he averaged 37.33 from three Tests, but in 2016-17 it dropped to 25.26. Moreover, the economy rate also improved from 4.4 in 2012-13 to 2.88 when he toured next, suggesting that he can also offer control from one end while the fast bowlers attack from the other.
On the other hand, Steve Smith has an exceptional record in India. In six matches and 12 innings, he has scored 660 runs at an average of 60.00. Three centuries and a fifty have come out of his bat, with best score of 178*.
India vs Australia 2023 Test series
India vs Australia 1st Test from February 9 to 13 at VCA Stadium, Nagpur
Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik refuse to apply Tilak while entering hotel; Fans divided
India vs Australia 2nd Test from February 17 to 21 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
India vs Australia 3rd Test from March 1 to 5 at HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
India vs Australia 4th Test from March 9 to 13 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
India’s Test squad for the first two Tests against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.
Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
.