NEW DELHI: Cometh the hour, cometh Nitish Reddy. He first rescued India from a precarious position, bowled some overs, and then turned into a guide for India’s No. 11, Mohammed Siraj.
The 21-year-old Reddy, who displayed tremendous resilience by scoring a determined 105 not out at number 8 to virtually save India on day three of the Boxing Day Test, was heard guiding Siraj from the non-striker’s end on how to handle the Australian bowling attack.
“Miyan bhai, off pe khade rehna. Bahar ka ball chhod do. Ghumega nahi. Ghum gya to fir kuch nahi kar sakte. Chhod do usse,” Reddy was heard telling Siraj. [Stay on the off side. Leave the ball outside. It won’t turn. If it turns, then there’s nothing we can do. Just leave it.]
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Impressed by Reddy’s sensational maiden century, former coach Ravi Shastri advocated for his promotion in the batting order, suggesting that a top-six position would provide better balance for India going into the fifth and final Test.
“I feel that the way he’s batted, this is the last time he will bat at 7,” Shastri told Star Sports.
“To get the balance of the side, you need him to go higher up the order, either 5 or 6, and then you have the opportunity of playing 5 bowlers to take the 20 wickets. He’s given that kind of confidence to the selectors, the team management, and the captain.”
India’s batting has appeared fragile, especially with skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant struggling for runs in the five-Test series so far.
Throwing his support behind Nitish, Shastri added, “Reddy is fully capable of batting in the top 6. Then it changes the whole balance of the game.
“You go to Sydney with him batting in the top 6, and you’re playing five bowlers.”
