Basit Ali roasts Nathan Lyon for overconfident 5-0 prediction for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has come down hard at the Australian spinner Nathan Lyon for his overconfident prediction for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against India.

The upcoming five-match Test series is going to be a crucial assignment, as it will seal the permanent place for both teams in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2024-25 Finals.

Basit Ali calls Nathan Lyon’s prediction for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 ‘Stupid’

But quite laughable is Lyon's bold prediction, which he made in his recent appearance on the Willow Talk Podcast. The legendary spinner predicted that Australia will whitewash Team India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 despite losing their last two home series to them.

He reiterated that Australia is going to sweep the upcoming Test series 5-0 against Rohit Sharma and his army later this year. Notably, Australia have not won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2015, while the Indian cricket team is aiming for the hat-trick of the Test series win this time Down Under.

Well, the former Pakistan selector, speaking on his YouTube channel, considered Lyon's statement "stupid" and pretty presuming. Basit Ali pointed out that India crushed Australia in Australia in the last two series, so such a bold prediction might not hold much water in the real world of the game.

Basit Ali quipped that if Nathan Lyon's statement had to be taken at face value, Ashwin could well predict that Team India would win the next two Test series against Australia. The former Pakistani cricketer said that this is a history match scenario when India dominated Australia over the past few years.

Such comments don't suit Australian cricketers: Basit Ali

Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel: “I will only say one thing about Nathan Lyon's stupid statement that Australia will defeat India by six Tests (sarcastically), but only by words. In the past two series, India has dominated Australia. Such comments don't suit cricketers.”

By contrast, Nathan Lyon expressed a sense of urgency and expectations over the upcoming Test series against India at home. Australia has seasoned campaigners like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head, who can trouble India’s fearsome bowling attack in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 later this year.

Nathan Lyon had stated: “We need big runs. We need the guys who are talented enough to get the hundred. The likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head, all in top order. I don’t want 101 or 107; I want 180 and 200.”

Notably, Australia is currently busy with the white-ball assignments, taking on England in the ODI series. On the other hand, India kicked off their busy Test season with the ongoing two-match Test series against Bangladesh on September 19 in Chennai.

They are currently facing the Tigers in the opening Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, and the tourists are now facing tough times against Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin after early breakthroughs in Chennai.

Ashwin has already completed a century, with India going past the 300-run mark in the ongoing Chennai Test against Bangladesh on Day 1.