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Australia’s World Cup winning captain Michael Clarke wants young India everywhere Nitish Kumar Reddy to move up into the batting line-up for the fifth Test in Sydney. Clarke is very impressed with Reddy’s performance and believes he is good to bat at No.6.
Reddy has been India’s find in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While a lot was expected from the senior players, Reddy has emerged as a big positive for India, especially given his all-round skills.
The all-rounder has shown maturity and temperament and is also among its top scorers series. His inclusion was earlier criticized by some of the former cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar for his limited first-class experience, but the youngster has proved everyone wrong.
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While speaking on 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 has stood up to Australia’s world-class bowlers and the way he has batted lower down the order with tailenders.
“(Nitish Kumar) Reddy, this kid batting at number eight, he’s a genius. I think he definitely needs to bat seven, if not six. He’s been India’s leading run-scorer, at 21, it’s unbelievable. he’s been underrated throughout the series,” observed Clarke.
“Reddy, this kid batting at number eight, he’s a genius. I think he’s definitely batted seven if not six. He’s been India’s leading run-scorer at 21, it’s unbelievable. He’s been underrated in the entire series,” he added.
Nitish Kumar Reddy batted at No.8 in Melbourne. He was scheduled to bat at number 7, but the promotion of Akash Deep while a night watchman brought him down the order. However, this did not stop him from playing the best innings of his life.
Fantastic series for Nitish Kumar Reddy
Reddy is having a fantastic run with the bat. The 21-year-old all-rounder from Andhra Pradesh has so far scored 294 runs in four Tests at an average of 66.51. He has a few forties to his name, but finally crossed the fifty-run mark at the MCG.
Not only did he pass his fifty, he went on to hit a maiden Test hundred. It was also the first international century of his career. This time it was full of maturity and temperament from the 21-year-old.
Reddy looked positive from the outset and put pressure on the players straight away. However, he was solid when the Australian bowlers were bowling well and made sure not to throw away his wicket.
Nitish Kumar Reddy helped India get close to 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 move closer to Australia’s first innings total. He also stitched a crucial 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar for the eighth wicket.
With this innings, expectations will be high from him in the upcoming Sydney Test. India need to win the match at any cost to keep their WTC final qualification hopes alive.
