London, July 11 (H.S.): Young all-rounder Nitish Reddy emerged as India’s standout bowler on the first day of the Lord’s Test, taking two crucial wickets—Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley—in his first over. At 22, Nitish impressed with his disciplined bowling, albeit at the slowest speed among India’s four fast bowlers. He bowled 14 overs alongside seasoned player Mohammad Siraj, consistently maintaining an excellent line and length that restricted England’s scoring opportunities.

Post-match, Nitish emphasized his focus on improving his bowling consistency since the start of the tour, especially after the Australia series. He credited insights from his IPL captain Pat Cummins and India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel for his development. Nitish acknowledged that Cummins’ performance in Australia served as a valuable learning experience and highlighted Morkel’s support over the past few weeks.

Reflecting on a side strain injury during the IPL that affected his rhythm, he mentioned the challenges of regaining his form, but expressed satisfaction with his recent performance. Looking ahead, Nitish conveyed his desire to bowl according to the team’s needs, expressing happiness with his day’s work and eagerness to take more wickets in the following matches.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar