Will be amazing to see Virat Kohli trying to rev up seats: Nathan Lyon wonders how India captain will adapt to empty stadiums

With the game of cricket also under shutdown across the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, Australian cricket stars have been busy pondering what it would mean for India captain Virat Kohli to play in front of empty seats if India's December tour to Australia is held in vacant stadiums.

Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon has revealed that he and his fast bowling teammates have been discussing what it would be like for Kohli to play without crowds - something that he keeps bouncing his energy from. Kohli is a supercharged personality on the field and often feeds from the energy of the raucuous crowds who just can't seem to get anpugh of their favourite batting star.

"He’s probably good enough to adapt to any scenario," Lyon said on Kohli on Tuesday.

"But I was talking to Mitch Starc the other day and we actually said that if we are playing with no crowd, it’ll be quite amazing to see Virat trying to rev up the (empty) seats. It’s going to be a little bit different, but Virat is a superstar. He’ll be able to adapt to any climate that we’re able to play in," added Lyon.

It's been more than a month since international cricket came to a standstill with Australia playing New Zealand in the first ODI of the now-abandoned 3-match series on March 13. But Lyon is still excited by the prospect of India visiting these shores next summer.

"I'm excited about the prospect of India coming out to Australia, it's up there with the biggest series alongside the Ashes," he said.

"They’re an absolute powerhouse of the cricket world, and to have those guys out here is going to be fantastic. Playing in front of crowds or no crowds is out of our control, we've got to follow the advice of all the amazing medical people around the world.

"I haven't thought about no crowds or massive crowds, it's just about the opportunity of playing against India again.

"They had the wood over us last time they came over here (2018-19) but we're a much stronger Australian cricket side at the moment, and I'm just unbelievably excited about playing them here at home," said Lyon.

Lyon also singled out India No. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara for some special treatment when he next visits Australia. Pujara was the lynchpin of India's momentous 2-1 Test series victory over the hosts in 2018-19 scoring 3 hundreds and 521 runs to help assert India's dominance. But Lyon thinks it won't be that easy for him the next time around.

"I think Pujara flies under the radar a little bit when you look at the Indian side. Obviously you look at Rahane and Virat and these guys. But Pujara is a wall. He's the new wall I should say. It helps that he played exceptionally well last time out here. He adapted his game. He had a bit of luck which is what you need when you're playing at the top level.

"He obviously played his absolute backside off, which for India was good to see but we're going to have to make sure that come this summer we have to come with some new plans to combat Pujara. As I said, he flies under the radar a little bit - he definitely won't he flying under the radar come this summer."