Former India player Sanjay Bangar has shown surprise about Nitish Kumar Reddy being sent to bat at No. 5 in the second Test against the West Indies. He added that the all-rounder failed to use the chance despite being dropped early in his innings as well. However, Reddy scored 43 runs off 54 deliveries as India declared their first innings at
518/5 on Day 2 (Saturday, October 11) in Delhi as well.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Bangar said, “Luck favored Nitish Reddy a little. I was slightly surprised that he was sent at No. 5, but he couldn’t make the most of that chance for a long time. His shot selection, even after a catch was missed, tells that it will take a little more time for Nitish Kumar Reddy to mature as a top-order batter,” he added.
“I feel he likes to play strokes naturally. Since this is a low-bounce wicket, you don’t cover the stumps much on such pitches. Aakash Chopra said that his foot was not going forward. Sometimes it doesn’t go forward because, if you cover your stumps, it’s in your mind that the ball would hit your legs. So that was a slight awareness issue due to which he missed a few balls and got outside edges to some balls,” Bangar further added.
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However, Sanjay Bangar also stated that Nitish Kumar Reddy has the urge to play big shots off deliveries that can be played along the ground as well.
“He has the ability against spin. However, because he has made his name at No. 6 or No. 7 while playing T20 cricket, he has the urge to hit sixes. The catch that was dropped was a ball to be driven. If he had played a drive and hit it in the gap, he would have got a four,” he said.
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“So, somewhere or other, he has the urge to play big shots, and when you have such conditions laid out for you, the top-order batters, who know how to make big scores, don’t get out playing shots like this. I feel that’s a massive learning for Nitish Kumar Reddy,” Sanjay Bangar concluded.
