Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has backed 21-year-old all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy as a promising candidate for India’s No. 6 position in Test cricket. Sanjay Manjrekar , impressed by Nitish Kumar Reddy’s temperament and resilience during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, believes the youngster has what it takes to excel at the international level.
He emphasized that while Nitish Kumar Reddy’s batting has already turned heads, further development in his bowling could make him a match-winning all-rounder.
Despite criticizing the selectors for sending Nitish Kumar Reddy at number 8 and not at number 6 against Australia in the Boxing Day Test, former Indian cricketer and ace commentator Sanjay Manjrekar compared India’s pacer all-rounder with legendary cricketer and former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri. At a time when Nitish Kumar Reddy was close to hitting his maiden Test century, batting alongside Washington Sundar, Manjrekar shared a cricket record and compared Nitish Reddy with Ravi Shastri.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s stellar and consistent performances over BGT 2024-25
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s century in Melbourne was not just a personal milestone but also a testament to his composure in high-pressure situations. Adding an emotional touch, his father was present at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to witness his breakthrough moment. This knock followed consistent performances earlier in the series, where Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with valuable 40-run contributions in Perth and Adelaide, establishing himself as a reliable option in India’s middle order.
The young all-rounder delivered a standout moment in the Melbourne Test, scoring a gritty 114 in the first innings despite India succumbing to a 184-run defeat. Batting at No. 8, Nitish Kumar Reddy showcased his ability to counter a world-class bowling attack featuring Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland.
The Andhra Pradesh all-rounder, at 21 years and 216 days, became the third-youngest Indian to score a maiden Test century on Australian soil. Sachin Tendulkar (18 years and 256 days in 1992) and Rishabh Pant (21 years and 92 days, 2019) are the only two younger Indian players to have scored maiden hundreds in Australia.
Nitish Kumar Reddy played all five Tests in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He ended the series with 298 runs at a decent average of 37.25. Apart from the 114 in Melbourne, he scored 41 & 38* on debut in Perth and 42 in both innings of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
With his medium pace, the 21-year-old claimed five wickets at an average of 38. He picked up one-wicket each in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane and two in Sydney.
Over the course of the four-match series, Nitish Kumar Reddy accumulated 298 runs and picked up three wickets, underlining his all-round potential. His adaptability and determination on one of the most challenging tours for a debutant have made him a player to watch in the coming years.
Former Indian batter now commentator Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that consistent performance from Nitish Kumar Reddy during the BGT 2024-25 has given India an good reliable option in the middle order in future.
Sanjay Manjrekar on Indian youngster Nitish Kumar Reddy’s impressive performance in BGT 2024-25
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that Nitish Kumar Reddy’s impressive performance with the bat during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia could cause some selection headaches for the team going ahead. While praising the 21-year-old’s batting effort in BGT 2024-25, Manjrekar opined that he has a long way to go as far as his bowling is concerned.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was a surprise choice in the Indian team for the five-match Test series Down Under. He was picked as an all-rounder. However, while the Andhra Pradesh cricketer made a big impact with the bat, which included a brilliant century in Melbourne, he failed to impress with his pace bowling.
During a discussion on ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar opined that Reddy is very raw when it comes to his bowling. He, however, admitted that the selectors would find it hard to ignore his case after his excellent showing with the willow in Australia.
“It’s not going to be easy. He’s got the fundamentals, so that’s a long journey for him to become even a bit like Beau Webster, who looked good as a bowler. That’s going to be a headache now for India because he’s played the kind of innings that you don’t see too many people playing,” Manjrekar said.
“His innings quality wise was the best innings an Indian batter played in that series. It was not an attacking, you know, taking the bowlers on kind of innings. He showed every facet of his batting,” the 59-year-old added
While Nitish Kumar Reddy scored a wonderful 114 in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test after India had their backs to the wall, he ended the series with three low scores. Manjrekar hoped that the youngster can build on his brilliance in Melbourne.
“After that (hundred) there were three failures. So, you wonder where it’s going. Let’s hope that it’s not just a one-innings wonder. But he’s going to give India some headache because there’s some serious batting talent there. Let’s see how that pans out,” the former India batter concluded.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was dismissed for one in the second innings of the Melbourne Test. He perished to Scott Boland for a golden duck in the first innings in Sydney and managed only four in the second innings.
While his batting has been a revelation, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s bowling remains a work in progress. Enhancing this aspect of his game could elevate him to the ranks of India’s elite all-rounders. With his performances already sparking conversations about his future, Nitish Kumar Reddy is undoubtedly a valuable asset for Indian cricket, poised to make a lasting impact.