Harbhajan Singh has applauded Nitish Kumar Reddy for playing a steady knock in India’s first innings of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He also appreciated the all-rounder for playing a few ‘incredible’ shots. However, Reddy scored 42 runs off 54 deliveries as India were bowled out for 180 in Adelaide on Friday, December 6 as well. Australia ended Day 1 at 86/1 in their first innings, trailing the visitors by 94 runs as well.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Harbhajan said, “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. 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.”

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In the same discussion, Cheteshwar Pujara also stated that Nitish Kumar Reddy was virtually predicting the lengths the Australian bowlers would bowl and had his shots ready as well.

“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. 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 said.