2 weeks Ago
BCCI Photo NEW DELHI: In a matter of six months, Nitish Reddy has become India’s next big seambowling allrounder. On Wednesday night at Arun Jaitley Stadium , his clean, big hitting set up a big 86-run win against Bangladesh as India sealed the T20I series 2-0 with another game to go. For India, this series was about checking out the T20 reserve pool.
Reddy’s 34-ball 74 would settle a lot of nerves for the selectors and the team management. He was even sent up the order ahead of Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag as India posted 221/9. Pandya, who opened the bowling in the previous game, was not given the ball to test Reddy’s bowling skills.
He didn’t disappoint, returning figures of 2/23 in four overs as Bangladesh limped to 135/9 in 20 overs. The pitch here may have gained a reputation of yielding big scores over the past year, but it wasn’t an easy task for Reddy and Rinku Singh to steady the innings after India had lost three wickets for 41 inside the Powerplay. Rinku, himself deprived of batting time of late, got into rebuilding mode with Reddy and reminded everyone of his finishing skills with a 29-ball 53.
India’s younger crop of players are fearless. For them, taking a backward step is always the last option. After a couple of rather quiet overs, Reddy and Rinku went hammer and tongs to put on a 108-run partnership off 48 balls.
While Rinku started the onslaught with a six, Reddy picked up the pace and went on a six-hitting spree. Reddy brought up his 50 off 27 balls, Rinku reached his half-century off 26 deliveries. They may be the new kids on the block but they dominated Bangladesh like a couple of alpha males.
Since his maiden IPL season this year, Reddy has been touted as a backup for Pandya. For much of his innings, which had seven clean sixes in it, one couldn’t be faulted for mistaking him for Pandya. The lean physique, the poise at the crease and the powerful swats down the ground looked like something that came straight out of Pandya’s playbook.
The boundary from longoff to mid-wicket was thoroughly peppered by Reddy. There were no cheeky ramps or smart reverse-sweeps. It was all about maintaining balance, presenting the full face of the bat and driving powerfully down the ground.
Reddy definitely ticked most boxes. Once Reddy and Rinku drove India to the big total, it was always going to be an uphill task for the Bangladesh batters against a bowling attack which had varied options. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav tried out seven bowlers.
None of them disappointed as the Bangladesh chase never really took off. Going by the first two T20Is, the Indian team management has nearly checked all the skills of the new lot of players. As India build their pool for the next T20 World Cup , their best bets seem to be shaping up well.
.
