Everyone lauded Nitish Kumar Reddy’s performance in Australia. In his first-ever Test series, the then-21-year-old ended as India’s second-highest scorer after Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, for all the good he did with the bat, the 3-1 loss also could be attributed to his selection.
The Nitish Reddy mistake in Australia
How and why, you ask? Well, it’s fairly easy. Of his 9 innings, four came at number eight. That’s right. For someone seen as a proper batter, Nitish scored 209 of his total 298 runs at the position. For context, Pat Cummins has played 48 times at that spot and he’s viewed as someone who can hold the bat. Syed Kirmani is the only batter, and he was a wicketkeeper, who has over 1,000 runs at number 8.
No one is criticising Nitish, nor is this an attempt to undermine his performance. But the question is, what was India trying to accomplish by playing Nitish? He is an all-rounder but only on paper. Take Ravindra Jadeja for example. Despite being a pace-dominated series, Jadeja bowled 19 more overs than Nitish, who’s a pacer.
All in all, Nitish bowled just 44 overs in 9 innings out of 538.5 overs delivered by India in the 5-match series. These numbers don’t reflect that Nitish is an all-rounder but rather a part-timer. And if India saw him as a top five batter, why was he never sent to bat above Jadeja?
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s bowling output in BGT 2024-25
PerthAdelaideBrisbaneMelbourneSydney7 of 110 overs(1 wicket)7 of 90.5 overs(1 wicket)13 of 135.1 overs(1 wicket)8 of 124.5 overs(0 wickets)9 of 78 overs(2 wickets)Had India played an extra fast bowler in Australia, instead of Nitish, the result might have been different. Now, one might say India wouldn’t have scored the runs they did and that’s true. But despite all of these runs, the loss margin for India was 10 wickets, 184 runs, and 6 wickets. The matches weren’t exactly close. And if not for Jasprit Bumrah, the scoreline would have been 0-4.
His runs came in handy, but how many matches do you win because your number eight averaged 45? It’s the top order that needs to fire and then with the ball, you need wickets. India managed the former to some extent but barring Bumrah and some effort from Mohammed Siraj, wickets weren’t coming easily.
Why Gill & Gambhir shouldn’t make the same mistake
That’s why in the India vs England Test series, new captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir must take a bold step. They need to have batting till 7, which will be Jadeja, and then four proper bowlers. Nitish may score 400 runs at number 7 but still, that won’t guarantee a series win. Because Nitish did score 298 runs in Australia, and we weren’t exactly close to winning.
Even in the India A vs England Lions matches, Nitish bowled just 26.5 overs in 2 matches. He got just 2 wickets and went at 4.17 runs per over. And we aren’t talking about England’s main team here. These are poor numbers. You can’t really go for a pure batter at number eight who bowls 10-15 runs per match.
One has to also factor in that Bumrah will not play all five matches in England. Despite being at his best in Australia, the pacer could help win one match. Now, how can one expect India to beat England on what are expected to be batting-friendly surfaces when you have just 3 bowlers other than him, including Jadeja? Depending on the surface, Gill and Gambhir must take the risk of playing either four pacers and one frontline spinner or three pacers and two frontline spinners, Jadeja included.
India’s bowlers for England Test series
Fast bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Shardul Thakur, Nitish Kumar ReddySpinners: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav
Will Gill & Gambhir be bold enough to drop Nitish Reddy for a 4th frontline bowler? Inside Sport India.
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