Anil Kumble has voiced his support for Nitish Kumar Reddy, advocating for his continued inclusion in the Indian Test side. Kumble believes that India should show faith in Reddy and resist the urge to make frequent changes to the team.
Kumble's endorsement comes after Reddy's impressive performance in the first day of the Lord's Test against England. The former India captain highlighted Reddy's potential as a valuable all-rounder, capable of both taking wickets and providing respite for the team's முன்னணி வேகப்பந்து வீச்சாளர்கள். Reddy made an immediate impact by dismissing both English openers in his first over, showcasing his ability to generate swing and maintain control. He removed Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. Kumble noted that Reddy's success was due to his accurate length and high-arm action. He further added that the dismissal of Crawley was a "beauty".
Kumble emphasized the importance of patience on a pitch that requires batsmen to work hard for their runs. He lauded the Indian bowlers for consistently bowling in good areas, which helped restrict England's score. Kumble suggested that limiting England to under 300 or ideally under 320 runs, would be a great result for India in the first innings. He also stressed the significance of India taking early wickets with the new ball on the second day to regain momentum.
Nitish Kumar Reddy had earlier scored a century against Australia in Melbourne. Kumble acknowledged Reddy's prior success, recalling his century in the Melbourne Test against Australia. He described Reddy as a young, capable batter with a century to his name, as well as a sharp fielder. According to Kumble, Reddy's ability to bowl long spells demonstrates his fitness and control.
Kumble isn't alone in recognizing Reddy's potential. Shubman Gill brought him on to bowl the 14th over. After the first session on Day 1, Kumble stated that both teams would be reasonably happy with how the session unfolded. He added that India might feel they missed a chance to pick up one more wicket, especially after the two early dismissals.
