Nitish Kumar Reddy’s meteoric rise from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to the Indian Test squad has been a dream come true for the 21-year-old all-rounder. After making his T20I debut against Bangladesh in October, Reddy has now been selected for the Test squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.
Reddy’s all-round abilities, including his seam-up bowling and aggressive batting, have impressed the BCCI selectors. He is currently in Australia with the India ‘A’ side, where he has been showcasing his skills in four-day matches against the Australian ‘A’ team.
Despite his impressive performances, Reddy admits that he was not expecting to be included in the Test squad before his performances for the ‘A’ side. “I was expecting my name to be announced, but not before India ‘A’ matches,” he said. “I thought it might depend on my performance in these ‘A’ matches. But it seems I have been able to show some promise to them, so I guess they hope I’ll do well.”
Reddy’s debut T20I against Bangladesh was a nervous experience, but he was put at ease by skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who encouraged him to express himself on the field. “I was a bit nervous initially, but Surya bhai gave me a free hand regarding my approach on the field,” Reddy said. “Only by scoring runs and taking wickets will you get that confidence, and I’ve experienced that already.”
If Reddy gets a chance to play in the five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, he is determined to adapt to the situation and play his role effectively. “I will stick to my role,” he said. “I’m just going to respond to the situation. If the situation demands me to play a big shot, I will play it. If the situation demands me to play till stumps, I’ll be ready for that too. I can do both.”
Reddy’s impressive record in first-class cricket, with 708 runs and 55 wickets in 21 matches, is a testament to his all-round abilities. He believes that a tough mindset is essential for success in all forms of cricket. “You need to be tough, that’s what I believe,” he said. “You have to be very tough in the centre, not just in red-ball, but all forms of cricket. Only those with a tough mindset can survive and deal with whatever situations they face.”
