Ashwin continues to mentor Lyon

Ravichandran Ashwin continues to inadvertently mentor fellow off-spinner Nathan Lyon, with the Australian desperate to learn from the tactical genius.

Quick Single: Lyon says India is under pressure

Ashwin showed exactly why he is ranked the world's top Test bowler during the recent clash in Bengaluru, grabbing 6-41 in the final innings as he spun India to a series-levelling victory.

No one has reached 250 wickets in fewer than 45 Tests, the record Ashwin set last month. It prompted former Australia captain Steve Waugh to declare Ashwin the "Bradman of bowling".

Lyon, who is nursing a split callus on his spinning finger but considered in no doubt for the third Test that starts in Ranchi on Thursday, has been studying footage of Ashwin to help tweak his approach on the subcontinent.

"The way he constructs an over is one big thing," Lyon said.

"I've been studying the way he bowls to left and right-handers in these conditions, the way he uses the crease.

"The different shapes he puts on the ball. We're different bowlers, you can tell that when he comes out to Australia.

Quick Single: Finger fault won't stop Lyon spinning

"He's the best bowler in the world in these conditions. If I can learn off Ravi, hopefully that can put me in good stead."

There are more than a few similarities between the tweakers, who both made Test debuts in 2011.

Both shot to prominence in their homelands because of Twenty20 cricket.

Ashwin wasn't on the radar of selectors prior to excelling in the Indian Premier League, while Lyon was working as a groundsman at Adelaide Oval when a T20 call-up for South Australia led to a first-class debut then a Baggy Green.

And both are fiercely competitive.

Ashwin ignited the first of many spot fires in the second Test last week when he gave Matt Renshaw and Steve Smith a spray early on day two, having been furious with Renshaw for blocking his path to the ball.

Lyon got under the skin of India skipper Virat Kohli during the match when he borrowed a line from South African quick Dale Steyn about removing the "head of the snake".

Australia's most experienced current player, with 65 Tests and 241 wickets to his name, is confident he can deliver in this week's crunch clash.

"I feel like I've learned from past experiences in the subcontinent. I'm very confident in my game at the moment," Lyon said.

"I'm confident that my stock ball can get any of the best batters in the world out."

Test Squads

India (for third and fourth Tests): Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade

Australia's schedule in India

Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune - Australia won by 333 runs.

Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru - India won by 75 runs.

Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi

Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala