London: The Indian team management and selectors were getting anxious during the dying phase of the IPL this year. Nitish Kumar Reddy had only bowled 30 balls in the entire season. The underlying concern was that he may have been losing interest in putting the extra effort to sharpen his medium-pace skills. Reddy’s rise in India’s Test pecking order is based on his ability to bowl more-than-meaningful overs, besides his flamboyant batting in the middle-order. Reddy suffered a side strain during India’s last tour of Australia in Jan. That he bowled only in the last two matches of the IPL in late May became a concern. The BCCI medical team had cleared him before the IPL only because they were satisfied that he was fit enough to perform all his skills. Once the IPL ended, a clear message was conveyed to him about ramping up his bowling practice. On Thursday morning, when England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley got through a testing first hour, Reddy delivered an assuring spell that will soothed India’s nerves. The ball fizzed off the pitch and moved off the seam and must have surprised a few people on the park.
He utilised the famous Lord’s slope to great advantage. The ball broke away from the right-hander and carried to the wicketkeeper above the waist. To his credit, Reddy hit the right spots consistently to ensure England’s batters could not run away with the game. A lot of work has gone behind his bowling since he arrived in England with the India ‘A’ team in early June.
Poll
What aspect of Reddy’s game do you think is most important?
“I’ve had conversations with him where I’ve challenged him to bowl a bit more. I want to see the ball more in his hands. We all know what he can do with the bat. But for a team, if you can have those bowling options, especially in these conditions, I think he’ll be one to be excited about,” India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel had said upon the arrival of the Test team. The mandate was clear. He had to get overs under his belt. The team didn’t want him to be just a roll-your-arm-over bowler. It was one of the reasons why he lost out to Shardul Thakur in Headingley. The team management was still eager to somehow get him back in the playing XI. On the eve of the Edgbaston Test, captain Shubman Gill said he would love to have a steady sixth-bowling option. Morkel has always insisted Reddy had the ability to bowl the ‘magic delivery’. Reddy vindicated both their statements on Thursday morning. His batting skills were never in doubt and now, it appears he can be a handful with the ball too.
