Chris Lynn names which Indian batter’s style he likes the most and toughest Indian bowler he faced [Exclusive]

Chris Lynn names which Indian batter’s style he likes the most and toughest Indian bowler he faced [Exclusive]

Experienced opening batter Chris Lynn played four ODIs and 18 T20Is for Australia but couldn’t do justice to his potential. However, he played some fantastic knocks in the top franchise leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League, among others.

During a recent interview with CricTracker, the 35-year-old said that Sunil Narine and Jasprit Bumrah are two of the toughest bowlers he faced in the IPL. Lynn also named Abhishek Sharma as the Indian batter whose batting style he adores the most. Abhishek is the top-ranked batter in T20I cricket at the moment, while Bumrah and Narine are two of the best match-winners in IPL history.

During the interaction, the right-handed batter also looked back on some of his favourite moments from his IPL career and revealed the best piece of advice he received from a senior player.

Excerpts from the Interview

You’ve faced some of the best Indian bowlers in the IPL — who’s the toughest Indian bowler you’ve faced?

Toughest Indian bowler in the IPL? When I was at Kolkata Knight Riders, playing alongside Sunil Narine, I remember my first year there. I only played two games that season and spent most of my time batting in the nets. Sunil would bowl to me, and I reckon it took about six net sessions just to hit the side of the net and work out which way he was spinning the ball. He’s an absolute superstar. On the flip side, I also got the chance to bat with him, and we had some great partnerships. It really showed that actions speak louder than words, especially with Sunil, who isn’t a big talker.

But I don’t think you can look past Jasprit Bumrah. I remember when he first came onto the scene and bounced AB de Villiers, then rushed him and caught him flush on the helmet. I remember thinking straight away that he had something special. He might be unorthodox, but his execution is second to none. The best in the world. His work ethic, his understanding of the game, and the respect he has for it are what make him truly world-class.

Among current Indian batters, whose batting style do you love the most, and why?

Whose batting style do I love the most? Right now, it has to be Abhishek Sharma. Every time I turn on the TV, he seems to be scoring fifty off sixteen balls, and that’s on a slow day. He’s a young kid coming through and already making a huge impact. I remember hearing that Ricky Ponting was devastated when his team didn’t retain him. And Ricky is one of the greats of the game. His understanding of cricket is second to none. That’s why, when he commentates, he so often seems to predict the future and people act surprised. There’s really no surprise in what Ricky says. But yes, Abhishek Sharma.

Any special memory or match from your IPL journey that’s closest to your heart?

Look, I think any time you win the IPL, it’s special. I was fortunate enough to be part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squads when we won in Bangalore, and then again in Dubai after chasing down a big score. Those moments stay with you. On a personal level, that catch was obviously a moment that put me on the map. Then there was a game where I batted with Gautam Gambhir. It was the first game of the season in Gujarat, and we chased down around 160 without losing a wicket. That was a special moment for me because Gauti is one of the greats of the game in India and hugely respected. I was the young kid at the other end, and my role was simple, take on the powerplay. It paid dividends and really kickstarted my run with Kolkata.

A year or two later in Bangalore, I was batting with Sunil Narine and we scored over 100 in the powerplay, which was pretty cool. I remember we were sitting on 98 and Yuzvendra Chahal was bowling. We were trying to be the first pair to bring up 100 in the powerplay, and even though Sunil doesn’t say much, there were definitely a few nerves. I managed to sweep one over the ropes to get us there.

Since then, you’ve seen guys like Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma take it to another level, scoring 130 or 140 in the powerplay. The game never goes backwards. Being able to unlock those core memories is pretty special.

As I said, I’ve had ten wonderful years in the IPL. I’m not saying no to going back either, but the calibre of young cricketers coming through now is incredible. Especially as an overseas player, you’ve got to be the best of the best, or someone who can contribute in multiple ways. Either way, it’s been an awesome journey so far.

What’s the best piece of advice you received from a senior player?

Best bit of advice? It’s something that’s always stuck in my mind. I can’t remember who said it to me all those years ago, but it was this: don’t count the days, make the days count. That’s stayed with me ever since.

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