There is no denying the fact that Nitish Kumar Reddy’s spot in the Indian playing XI, in the ongoing IND vs AUS Tests was under scanner. Despite batting well, it was his bowling, that led many to believe, that he did not deserve a spot in India’s playing XI for the MCG Boxing Day Test, and subsequently for the Sydney Test.
Nitish Kumar Reddy in IND vs AUS Sydney Test
But then, Nitish Kumar Reddy has come up with a master-class to cement in place in the Team for the fifth and final Test of the series, not as an all-rounder, but purely as a batter. Coming into bat, after Rishabh Pant’s horrific shot, that left India reeling at 191/6, the right-hander ensured that the team crossed the follow on mark of 274 with relative ease, as he slammed his maiden ton as well.
Previously in the IND vs AUS series, Nitish had returned with crucial scores of 41, 38, 42, 42, and 16. And this time he went a step further to register a gritty 100 in the most testing conditions, when all the other Indian batters had failed. In fact, he went on to string a partnership of 127 with Washington Sundar, for the eight wicket, that took India closer to the Aussie total of 474.
Second-highest Run-getter
Just to put things into perspective, and why Nitish Reddy is needed for the fifth Test in Sydney, he has now amassed 284 runs in 4 matches at an average over 71, becoming India’s second-highest scorer in the series. Meanwhile, if one was to talk about his bowling, he has been rather ineffective, and used sporadically by skipper Rohit Sharma.
In the 4 matches played, he has only picked up three wickets in the 34 bowled overs. With three maidens, he has conceded 144 runs, at an average of 48, and an economy rate of 4.23.
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