"It's not easy to hit a six over cover against Mitchell Starc" - Harbhajan Singh lauds Nitish Kumar Reddy's knock in BGT 2024-25 2nd Test
Harbhajan Singh has lauded Nitish Kumar Reddy for playing a mature knock in India's first innings of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He particularly appreciated the all-rounder for playing a few 'incredible' shots.
Reddy scored 42 runs off 54 deliveries as India were bowled out for 180 in Adelaide on Friday, December 6. Australia ended Day 1 at 86/1 in their first innings, trailing the visitors by 94 runs.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Harbhajan praised Reddy for playing as per the demands of the situation. He noted that the youngster struck a couple of amazing sixes, one over cover off Mitchell Starc and a reverse-swept one off Scott Boland.
"He is very young but knows how to adjust his game according to the situation, and that's what he tried to do. He kept playing normally earlier. He knew that he had to build partnerships. However, when batters started getting out one after the other from the other end, he showed his prowess," Harbhajan said.
"It's not easy to hit a six over cover against Mitchell Starc, and after that, hitting a six with a reverse sweep is a huge thing. He played incredible shots. We have rarely seen such shots in Test cricket, that too from a young batter who has come to Australia for the first time," Harbhajan added.
Harbhajan Singh pointed out that Nitish Kumar Reddy played a very crucial knock in India's first innings of the Perth Test as well. He added that all three of his Test innings (41 and 38* in Perth and 42 in Adelaide) might have been short but were incredible.
"He knows which bowlers will bowl where and what shots he can play off those lengths" - Cheteshwar Pujara on Nitish Kumar Reddy
![Nitish Kumar Reddy reverse-swept Scott Boland for a six over third man. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/df617-17334923676729-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same discussion, Cheteshwar Pujara noted that Nitish Kumar Reddy was virtually predicting the lengths the Australian bowlers would bowl and had his shots ready.
"The way he is playing his shots, he is looking extremely confident. He knows which bowlers will bowl where and what shots he can play off those lengths. The six he hit against Mitchell Starc over cover, he picked the length and the timing was excellent. The reverse sweep he played, he knew Boland would bowl full," he said.
The veteran batter added that Reddy was primarily responsible for taking India to a 150-plus total.
"The follow-up delivery was on the leg stump and there too he was ready. Then he hit a back-of-the-length ball over midwicket. He knew that a deep midwicket had been placed, but he still cleared it. He knows when to accelerate and play shots. The situation was not easy for him. If he hadn't scored runs, even 150 might not have been scored," Pujara observed.
Reddy struck three fours and as many sixes during his innings. He added 35 runs for the ninth wicket with Jasprit Bumrah, who didn't open his account, to lend some respectability to India's total.