Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has said that Nitish Kumar Reddy India’s ‘breakout star’ in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He was particularly impressed by the all-rounder’s batting and big-hitting ability as well. Notably, India suffered a 10-wicket defeat in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide on Sunday, December 8 but Reddy impressed with the bat for India, top-scoring with 42-run knocks in both innings as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “At times, when you are young, you don’t have any excess baggage. This boy has been very, very impressive. There is a very good stat – no Indian batter has hit more sixes than him against fast bowling in Tests in Australia to date, and he has played only two Tests.”
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“He has been outstanding. He is the breakout star of this Indian cricket team on this tour of Australia. He has exceeded our expectations. I am totally impressed. Nitish Kumar Reddy as a batter looks ready. Nitish Kumar Reddy as a bowler is still a work in progress. Nitish Kumar Reddy as a player, I feel he has an excellent temperament. He is showing that he is not getting flustered. He is trying to express himself. The key operative word in Indian cricket is intent. His intent is very clear and is playing clean cricket,” he further added.
In the same video, Aakash Chopra also stated that Nitish Kumar Reddy shouldn’t be promoted in the batting order.
“If the question comes to your mind whether Nitish Kumar Reddy should be made to bat up the order, I would say where he is batting and the way he is batting, it’s just about right. Just like Harshit Rana, he has come with very limited first-class experience. It’s slightly more than him but still less. So the position at which he is batting, the pressure is not like that, as to what would happen if he makes a mistake. As soon as you come at No. 4 or No. 3, or open, suddenly you feel what would happen if you make a mistake and can you actually be so daring,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
