Nitish Kumar Reddy Admits Pat Cummins Helped Him a Lot with the Ball After Australia Tour

Nitish Kumar Reddy was India’s breakout star during the Australia tour, scoring his maiden Test hundred against Pat Cummins' side at the MCG.

Nitish Kumar Reddy Admits Pat Cummins Helped Him a Lot with the Ball After Australia Tour

Nitish Kumar Reddy opened up about the advice that he Pat Cummins, ahead of England tour. (via First Post)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Indian all-round sensation Nitish Kumar Reddy, after scalping two wickets in the opening day of India’s third Test against England, spoke about an unusual mentorship that he received. The 22-year-old revealed that Australian skipper Pat Cummins helped him a lot, ahead of the England tour. 

Following their emphatic 336-run victory over the Three Lions at Edgbaston, the Indian players entered the Lord’s Cricket Ground with a lot of confidence, hoping to gain a 2-1 lead. However, the Indian bowlers delivered an average performance on the opening day at Lord’s, as England finished with 251 runs off the board, losing just four wickets. The only exception in India’s bowling unit was Nitish Kumar Reddy. 

While it was expected that Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep would lead the line, Nitish Kumar Reddy stood out. The 22-year-old dismissed openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett in his very first over, outperforming his teammates on Day 1. Gill had introduced Reddy in the 14th over, where he successfully provided India the breakthrough by ending the 43-run first wicket stand between Crawley and Duckett. 

Reddy first dismissed the in-form Ben Duckett, who was deceived by a short ball to be caught behind by keeper Rishabh Pant. Crawley was the next to go, as the ball brushed past his glove and went straight to Pant. Speaking after the close of play on Day 1, he credited Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel and a surprising figure, Australian captain Pat Cummins, for helping him improve with the ball. 

Reddy and Cummins play together in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The young all-rounder opened up about the tips that he got from the Aussie skipper and revealed the discussions he had with him about bowling well after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Reddy disclosed that he questioned Pat Cummins about the difference between bowling in England and in Australia, to which the 32-year-old suggested that he take note of the weather conditions and play his natural game. Reddy said, after day 1:

Pat [Cummins] is my captain, and he’s been brilliant in Australia and I asked some tips and he’s been telling me how things would have been done in Australia, how can I go through in Australia.

The young Indian all-rounder also talked about the positives that he gained after working with Morne Morkel for the last few weeks, exclaiming that there has been an improvement in terms of his line and length. Nitish Kumar Reddy also stated that he would be aiming to get his name on the Lord’s honors board, where players earn a spot for themselves if they score a hundred or claim a five-wicket haul:

I asked him what’s the difference between bowling in Australia and England and he said it is not going to be a different, but you watch about the weather conditions and play your game.

Reddy has struggled to find form with the bat during India’s ongoing five-match Test tour in England. His performance in the second Test at Edgbaston was disappointing, as he scored just a single run in each of the innings before being dismissed.

Former Head Coach Anil Kumble Advises Team India to Back Nitish Kumar Reddy, Avoid ‘Chop and Change’

Indian spin bowling legend Anil Kumble advised Team India to stick with young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy as a regular feature in the red-ball side, citing his proven talents. The former India coach made this recommendation after Reddy claimed two wickets on the opening day at Lord’s. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble suggested the Indian Test team to stick with young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. (via Outlook)

Kumble expressed his surprise at Reddy’s recent performances, noting his disciplined approach and consistency in hitting the right bowling areas. The former Indian spinner suggested that the 22-year-old be included in the Indian Test side regularly, as he can bat at crucial junctures and bowl effectively. He also highlighted that Reddy’s short spells offer essential rest and recovery time for the fast bowlers.

He’s young, he’s a capable batter with a century under his belt, and he’s a sharp fielder. India should persist with him and avoid the temptation to chop and change.

The 54-year-old urged the team to stick with the young all-rounder for the next few years, stressing the importance of avoiding the temptation to ‘chop and change’ the squad. Regarding the ongoing third Test at Lord’s, Kumble stated that the Men in Blue will need to work hard to secure a victory.