London: Indian team management and selectors were worried during the IPL death phase this year. Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled only 30 balls throughout the season. The underlying concern was that he was losing interest in making extra efforts to speed up his medium-motion skills. The rise of Reddy in India’s Test Peking Order is based on the ability to overrings more and more for more and more time, in addition to his fiery batting in the middle-order. Reddy faced a side strain during India’s last tour of India in January. He became a matter of concern in the last two matches of the IPL in late May. The BCCI medical team had approved him before the IPL as he was satisfied that he was fit enough to perform all his skills. Once the IPL ended, a clear message was told to increase his bowling practice. On Thursday morning, when England openers Ben Docket and Zak Croly were found through the first hour test, Reddy gave an assurance that would calm India’s nerves. The ball dropped out of the pitch and went away from the seam and would have surprised some people in the park.
He used the slope of the famous God for great advantage. The ball broke with the right hand and the wicketkeeper was taken over the waist. For his credit, Reddy hit the England batsmen at the right locations to ensure this to run away with the game. In the beginning of June, India has been very useful behind their bowling since reaching England with the ‘A’ team.
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Which aspect of Reddy’s game is the most important that you think is the most important?
“I have interacted with him, where I have challenged him to bowl a little 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 situations, I think he would be one to get excited,” India’s bowling coach Morn Morkel said on the arrival of the test team. The mandate was clear. He had to get an over under his belt. The team did not want it to be just a roll-arrow-over bowler. This was one of the reasons that he lost to Shardul Thakur in Headingly. The team management was still keen to bring him back to the XI to play somehow. On the eve of the Edgbaston Test, Captain Shubman Gill said he would prefer a stable sixth-bouncing option. Morkel has always insisted that Reddy had the ability to bowl ‘Magic delivery’. Reddy made both his statements on Thursday morning. His batting skills were never in doubt and now, it seems that he can be a handful with the ball.
