India’s emerging all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy made a memorable impact on the opening day of the third Test against England at Lord’s, picking up two crucial wickets in his very first over. The 22-year-old struck early blows by removing both England openers—Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley—in quick succession, turning the tide after a quiet start with the new ball by Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep.

Reddy, who has shown tremendous promise with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, revealed that he sought guidance from his franchise captain Pat Cummins ahead of this crucial Test tour.

“After the Australia tour, I felt I needed to work more on my bowling,” Nitish Reddy said during the post-day press conference. “I asked Pat about the difference in conditions between Australia and England. He told me to focus on the weather, believe in myself, and just play my game.”

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That advice paid off, as Nitish Reddy showcased impressive control and movement off the seam, finishing with figures of 2 for 35 in 14 tidy overs.

Asked whether he had his eyes on joining the illustrious names on the Lord’s honours board, Reddy smiled, “I’d be so happy if I got my name on the board. I just want to be consistent. The swing is helping, and I’ve worked hard to reach here.”

The youngster also spoke about the influence of India’s pace spearheads Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj on his development. “They always tell me to stay consistent. It’s not just about bowling one good ball—you have to keep doing it because we’re bowling to world-class batters.”

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At Stumps, England were well-placed at 251/4, with Joe Root unbeaten on 99 and skipper Ben Stokes steady on 39*. Day 2 promises more action, with India looking to break through early and Reddy chasing a possible five-wicket haul at the Home of Cricket.