Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has lauded young talent Nitish Kumar Reddy for his impressive batting performances, even drawing comparisons to all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Gavaskar’s praise comes after Reddy’s remarkable century during the Melbourne Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where he scored 114 runs in India’s first innings.
Reddy, 21, has quickly made a name for himself as a reliable crisis-man for India. His performances, particularly in the ongoing series, have caught the attention of cricket fans, as he has consistently stepped up in difficult situations. His innings in Melbourne was especially crucial, helping India stay competitive in a challenging match.
Gavaskar, in his column for Sportstar, described Reddy as one of the brightest young stars in Indian cricket, highlighting his cricketing intelligence. “With every subsequent Test match, his ability to read situations and play accordingly has been evident,” Gavaskar wrote, reflecting on Reddy’s rise from his early IPL performances with the Hyderabad franchise to his Test debut in Perth.
While Gavaskar praised Reddy’s batting, noting that he is already better than Pandya at the same stage of his career, he also pointed out that Reddy’s bowling still requires improvement. Despite not contributing significantly with the ball yet, Reddy’s batting has already made a lasting impact, and Gavaskar is hopeful that with time, his all-rounder abilities will evolve, making him a key figure for India in all formats.
In the ongoing series, Reddy has scored 294 runs and taken 3 wickets across four Tests, showcasing his growing potential. A special moment followed his century in Melbourne, as Reddy’s father, Mutyalu Reddy, met Gavaskar and paid his respects.
