December 29, 2024: In a post-day press conference following his stellar performance on Day 4 of the fourth Test against Australia, Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy shared his joy at playing alongside cricketing legend Virat Kohli and receiving words of encouragement from him after scoring his maiden international century. Nitish’s knock of 114 runs off 189 balls, which included 11 fours and a six, helped India reach 369 in response to Australia’s first innings total of 474 runs.
Nitish’s innings has been a standout moment in the series, as he not only made his mark with the bat but also inspired India’s bowling attack. Following his contribution with the bat, Jasprit Bumrah (4/56) and Mohammed Siraj (3/66) ripped through the Australian top order, leaving the hosts at 228/9 by the end of Day 4, still leading by 333 runs.
Reflecting on his experience of playing with Virat Kohli, Nitish described the emotional significance of the moment, saying: “It was such a grateful moment for me. I have been watching Virat Kohli since childhood, making him my idol. Now, finally, I got to play alongside him. He scored a hundred when I was at the non-striker’s end in Perth, and I felt so happy. I scored a hundred in this match, and when he came to me and said, ‘You really played well, you got the team back in the game,’ I was over the moon. I always dreamed of this moment, and finally, when he spoke to me, that was the best moment for me.”
Nitish has been one of the standout performers of the series, emerging as India’s highest run-scorer with 293 runs in four matches at an impressive average of 58.60, which includes his match-winning century. He has also made valuable contributions with the ball, claiming three wickets in the series.
When discussing his strategy for facing Scott Boland, one of Australia’s most consistent bowlers, Nitish revealed that he made tactical adjustments to counter Boland’s line and length. He said:
“Boland is a more consistent bowler, so I just wanted to change his line and length to make it easier for me. I do not have to stay on the crease all the time; I step out a little bit and adjust to the bowler. That’s been working for me.”
Reflecting on his journey and his role as an all-rounder, Nitish, who made his entry into the Indian team after an impressive performance in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL), said:
“At the start of the tour, I expected to play as a full-fledged all-rounder. I’m still not happy with the way I’m bowling, and I hope to come back stronger. I want to fulfil that allrounder role in the coming days.”
Nitish, who had a breakthrough IPL season with 303 runs in 13 matches, acknowledged the importance of fitness and hard work, stating: “Over the last two to three years, I’ve been working hard on both my batting and bowling. I can see my improvements, and fitness is key for me as an all-rounder. After my first IPL season, I realised what I had to work on, especially with my batting. During the off-phase, I spent a lot of time working on it, and now it’s paying off. It’s not about one or two months of work, but years of effort.”
As he continues to grow as an all-rounder, Nitish’s dedication to improving his skills, both with bat and ball, is evident. His performance in this Test series, and his invaluable partnership with the likes of Virat Kohli, further cements his position as a rising star in Indian cricket.
