On a day when India’s premier pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj struggled to make early inroads at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, it was the youngest seamer in the attack, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who stole the show. Introduced into the attack in the 14th over, the 22-year-old struck twice in his very first over, dismissing Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley to jolt England early in the third Test of the five-match series.
NKR’s massive improvement
What stood out wasn’t just the wickets. It was how Reddy bowled with discipline, moving the ball both ways and holding his line throughout a spell of 14 overs, more than what he bowled in any of the Tests at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
Apparently, this performance was the result of months of focused improvement, and after stumps, Reddy opened up on the influences that shaped his progress: IPL captain Pat Cummins and India bowling coach Morne Morkel.
“Yeah, it’s like after Australia tour, I felt like I have to improve my bowling and the consistency the most, that’s what I looked at,” Reddy said. “And yeah, Pat is my captain and he has been brilliant in Australia and I have asked him some tips and he has been telling me how things would have been done in Australia, how can I go through in Australia. And that’s a great experience for me, sharing with Pat Cummins.,” said Nitish Reddy after Day 1 of the Lord’s Test.
Reddy, who returned to bowling late in the IPL after recovering from a side strain suffered during the England T20I series in January, said Morkel had been instrumental in tuning his rhythm during this tour. Fascinatingly, just before the first Leeds Test between India and England, India’s bowling coach showed his confidence in Nitish’s bowling abilities. Morkel uttered that Nitish can complement the Indian bowling attack, and that is what the Andha-born did on Thursday.
“We have been working on my consistency a lot, since I got some bit of swing both ways and I just want to be consistent over all areas. So we are working on that and I have been working hard on my bowling since one year or two years now,” he said.
Nitish Reddy’s bowling in BGT 2024-25
| Perth | Adelaide | Brisbane | Melbourne | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 of 110 overs (1 wicket) | 7 of 90.5 overs (1 wicket) | 13 of 135.1 overs (1 wicket) | 8 of 124.5 overs (0 wickets) | 9 of 78 overs (2 wickets) |
Nitish’s bowling was a massive plus for India. While the Lord’s pitch wasn’t demonic, it had enough for the all-rounder to move the ball, especially in the air. What was heartening to see how he stuck to his lines, a skill that was previously lacking in him. With improved performance in bowling, Nitish has perhaps strengthened his position in the team. No one doubts his batting abilities, especially after his hundred in Melbourne. Now, if he continues to shine with the ball, there’s no stopping him from becoming India’s premier all-rounder.
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