Australian spinner Nathan Lyon said that he has nothing but respect for Virat Kohli, adding that you cannot under any circumstances write him off.

There has been plenty of scrutiny on Kohli and his form coming into the Border Gavaskar Trophy who has just two centuries and 11 half-centuries in his last 60 Test innings. In the six Tests he has played in 2024, Kohli has averaged only 22.72.

In the last series against New Zealand at home, Kohli could manage only 93 runs in 6 innings.

“Overall, look at his record. You don’t write off champions. I’ve got nothing but respect for Virat. I want to get him out, there’s no point in hiding behind that, but it’s challenging. It’s been pretty amazing competing against him for so many times,” Lyon said to cricket.com.au.

“Him and Smithy (Steve Smith) are probably the best two batters in our last era of this last decade,” the 36-year-old off-spinner with 530 wickets from 129 Tests added.

Lyon is one of the four members of the current squad who were part of Australia’s last successful Test series against India in 2014-15. India have won the last two series in Australia but they have come here after a shock 0-3 loss at home against New Zealand. Lyon doesn’t believe that India are vulnerable this time around.

“They’re dangerous all the time. They’re a side full of superstars. They’ve got so much experience, but talented youth as well and you can never write off that,” said Lyon, who took 22 wickets when Australia toured India in 2023.

“I was fascinated by that series to New Zealand, but we’re expecting the best India that we’ve played against for a number of years now,” he said.

(With agency inputs)