New Delhi: Hailing the Hyderabad all-rounder after his heroics in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, former India opener Sunil Gavaskar labelled Nitish Kumar Reddy as a better Test batter than veteran all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Gavaskar termed the young all-rounder from Andhra Pradesh the ideal replacement for Hardik Pandya in Test cricket. In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar hailed Reddy’s superb performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy and highlighted the heroic knock at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Reddy scored his maiden century under immense pressure, saving India from the follow-on and taking the visitors to a respectable position.
According to Gavaskar, Reddy has shown great maturity in the ongoing series and hailed his temperament and game sense. He also said that Reddy is well-suited to the demands of Test cricket and while his bowling remains a work in progress, he is a better batter than Pandya was around the same time.
Ideal solution for India’s long-standing issue
Reddy’s blockbuster arrival in Test cricket could potentially prove to be a long-term solution for India’s fast-bowling all-rounder issues. Since Hardik’s departure from red-ball cricket due to injuries, India have been searching for a capable player with all-rounder skills and Reddy has shown his capabilities with the bat more than once in the series.
The Hyderabad star is a more than handy bowler and could emerge as the perfect all-rounder India have been longing for with the right guidance.
Reddy is India’s second-highest run-scorer in the ongoing series with 294 runs in seven innings at a stunning average of 49. He is only behind Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has scored 359 runs in eight innings at an average of 51.28.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad has been used sparsely with the ball and has picked up 2 wickets in the 35 overs he has bowled in the series so far.
With the loss in the MCG Test, India, trailing 1-2 in the series, will look to draw the series with a win in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting on January 3, Friday.
Nitish Reddy is India’s second-highest run-scorer in the ongoing series with 294 runs in seven innings at a stunning average of 49.00. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
