India vs Australia: Nitish Kumar Reddy helps India with a knock of 42 off 54 (AP)India vs Australia: India have had a few troubles facing the Australian bowling attack in the three innings they have played in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy so far.
Twice now they have lost early wickets, with the pressure of scoring falling to the middle order, while the commanding second-innings start helped them in a 295-run win in Perth. But there has been one batter who has shone when under pressure this series. That the 22-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy is playing in his maiden Test series makes it all the more special.
The Andhra all-rounder has shown grit and courage and has helped the team reach respectable totals so far, and delivered yet again when India seemed to be in a pickle on the first day of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Now THIS is entertaining stuff from Nitish Kumar Reddy!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/JgsupvPUkN
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 6, 2024
Playing his first pink-ball Test for India, Nitish walked into bat when India were 87-5, just after losing skipper Rohit Sharma. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Nitish played a knock that made him the top-scorer of the innings yet again after he impressed in Perth when India folded for 150 in the first innings. His fearless approach saw him score 42 off 54 balls, an innings that included three fours and three sixes.
Nitish displayed a mix of textbook strokes and unconventional shots, as he took on Scott Boland for 6,4,6, the first six being a reverse-scoop, which sailed over third-man and into the packed Adelaide stands. Nitish’s onslaught helped India reach a total of 180, as the innings ended with him falling to Mitchell Starc, who registered his best Test figures of 6/48. Nitish’s three sixes was also the joint-most by a batter in an innings during a Pink-Ball Test in history, only achieved by Nathan Lyon before.
Nitish Kumar Reddy batting so far in Australia:
1st Test:- 41(59) (from 73/6 to 150); 38(27).
2nd Test:- 42(54) (from 87/5 to 180).
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