Australia’s World Cup winning captain Michael Clarke he wants a young Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy to advance in the batting line-up for the fifth Test in Sydney. Clarke is very impressed with Reddy’s performance and feels that he is good to bat at No.6.
Reddy has been a revelation for India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Although much was expected from the senior players, Reddy has proved to be a big positive for India, especially given his all-round skills.
The all-rounder has shown maturity and temperament and is also among the top scorers in this run series. His inclusion was earlier criticized by some of the former cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar due to his limited first-class experience, but the youngster proved everyone wrong.
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While speaking on the Beyond 23 Cricket Podcast, Michael Clarke praised Nitish Kumar Reddy for his performances as a batsman and called for his promotion in the batting order. Clarke was impressed with the way Reddy faced Australia’s world-class bowlers and the way he batted lower in the order with the tailenders.
“(Nitish Kumar) Reddy, this young kid batting at number eight, is a genius. I think he definitely got seven, if not six. He was India’s leading run-scorer, 21, unbelievable. He’s underrated in the whole series,” Clarke remarked.
“Reddy, this young kid batting at number eight, is a genius. I think he’s definitely got seven, if not six. He’s been India’s leading run-scorer, 21, unbelievable. He’s been underrated in the whole series,” he added.
Nitish Kumar Reddy batted at No.8 in Melbourne. He was slated to bat at No.7, but was promoted Akash Deep while the night watchman led him down in order. However, that didn’t stop him from playing the best innings of his life.
A fantastic series for Nitish Kumar Reddy
Reddy has a fantastic series with the bat. The 21-year-old all-rounder from Andhra Pradesh has scored 294 runs in four Tests so far at an average of 66.51. He has several forties but finally crossed the fifty-run mark at the MCG.
Not only did he pass fifty, but he also won the first hundred. It was also the first international century of his career. This knock was full of maturity and temperament from a 21-year-old youngster.
Reddy looked positive from the start and immediately put the bowlers under pressure. However, he was solid when the Australian bowlers bowled well and ensured that his wicket was not thrown away.
Nitish Kumar Reddy helped India close in on Australia’s total
Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 114 off 189 balls with 11 fours and 1 six. His knock helped India avoid the follow-on and close in on Australia’s first innings total. He also put together a crucial partnership of 127 runs with Washington Sundar for the eighth wicket.
With these changes, expectations from him will be high in the upcoming Sydney Test. India must win the match at any cost to keep their hopes of qualifying for the WTC finals alive.
