[Watch] Nitish Kumar Reddy falls to a big shot for 41 as Usman Khawaja takes a stunning catch in BGT 2024-25 1st Test
Team India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was dismissed for 41 on debut against Australia on Day 1 of the first Test in Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Reddy was one of the two debutants for India alongside right-arm pacer Harshit Rana.
Nitish walked out to bat when the hosts found themselves in a precarious situation, trembling at 73/6. Together with Rishabh Pant (37 off 78), he stitched together a 48-run partnership with the latter losing his wicket to Pat Cummins. The 21-year-old on debut impressed one and all with his strokeplay, executing reverse sweeps against Nathan Lyon with ease.
However, the fall of wickets at regular intervals prompted him to take a much more defensive approach. Batting for the last wicket alongside Mohammed Siraj, Reddy decided to take the attack to his IPL skipper, Pat Cummins. After being dropped on 39 by Usman Khawaja, Reddy added salt to the wounds by hitting the next delivery with a boundary.
On the fourth ball of the over, Cummins pulled his length back a little bit as Reddy went for the big shot. However, the batter managed to find only a top edge, which was held onto safely by Khawaja, bringing about an end to his knock on debut.
Take a look at the dismissal below:
Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 41 runs off 59 balls, which included six boundaries and a maximum. He was the last wicket to fall, with Team India being bowled out for 150 in 49.4 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah leads the charge with the ball in hand as Australia find themselves five down on Day 1 of the BGT 2024-25
![Jasprit Bumrah has picked up three wickets so far [File image via Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/0baef-17322663757996-1920.jpg?w=500)
Team India won the toss and were folded for 150, with the total being achieved by majority contributions from Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rishabh Pant (37 off 78), and KL Rahul (26 off 74). For the hosts, it was Josh Hazlewood (4/29) who picked up the majority of wickets.
The Indian bowlers had a fine start, with Jasprit Bumrah (3/9) leading the way for the others, scalping the likes of Usman Khawaja (8 off 19) and Steve Smith (0 off 1). Harshit Rana picked up his maiden wicket in Tests, knocking off Travis Head (11 off 13) before Mohammed Siraj also got himself in the wickets column, dismissing Mitchell Marsh (6 off 19).
Australia are in deep trouble with their score reading 42/5 after 18 overs. They trail by 18 runs and will hope that their batters in the middle will lead a fightback.