In the hallowed grounds of Lord`s, amidst the intense opening day of the Test match between England and India, a relatively young bowler for the visiting side quietly but effectively made his mark. Nitish Reddy, aged 22, finished the day as India`s leading wicket-taker, a performance he credits not to chance, but to a deliberate and sustained effort to refine his primary weapon: bowling consistency.
Brought into the attack as early as the 14th over, Reddy bowled a notable 14 overs by the close of play, matching the workload of senior paceman Mohammed Siraj. His introduction was immediately impactful, removing both England openers, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, within his very first over. It`s the kind of start that turns heads and disrupts opposition plans decisively.
Despite being acknowledged as the slowest among India`s four seamers on display, Reddy demonstrated excellent control. He found appreciable swing, a valuable asset in English conditions, but more importantly, he held tight lines and challenging lengths consistently throughout his spells, effectively applying pressure and limiting England`s scoring opportunities.
Reddy explicitly stated that this focus on consistency has been central to his preparation since the beginning of the tour, which included India A fixtures and internal practice matches. He felt the need for this improvement after a previous tour and has since prioritized it rigorously.
His journey towards this enhanced consistency has involved seeking counsel from experienced figures in the game. Reddy highlighted valuable conversations with his IPL captain, Pat Cummins, the highly successful Australian skipper. Discussing approaches and tactics, particularly how to operate effectively in different conditions, provided Reddy with crucial insights. It`s perhaps not entirely surprising that talking bowling with one of the world`s premier fast bowlers and captains might yield positive results.
Adding to this, Reddy has been working closely with the Indian team`s bowling coach, the formidable former South African paceman, Morne Morkel. Reddy described the experience as “great,” noting significant progress over the couple of weeks they`ve worked together. The core of their focus has been consistency, aiming to ensure that his ability to swing the ball both ways translates into reliable execution across all aspects of his bowling. This dedicated effort, something he`s been working on diligently for a year or two, is now manifesting on the biggest stage.
However, achieving this rhythm and consistency wasn`t a smooth ride. Reddy admitted that recovering from a side strain sustained in a T20I against England back in January presented a significant challenge. The injury made it difficult to build his bowling loads, impacting his ability to bowl regularly, particularly at the start of the subsequent IPL season. He was only able to resume bowling in the nets during the latter part of the IPL and delivered a mere five competitive overs throughout the tournament. Regaining full rhythm post-injury was, understandably, “a bit tough.”
Feeling his bowling return to form towards the end of the IPL provided a timely boost. Arriving at Lord`s, Reddy`s objective was straightforward: “I just wanted to enjoy the moment and want to bowl what my team want from me.” By successfully executing his plans and delivering a key performance, he found satisfaction in his day`s work.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the match, Reddy`s intention remains focused and pragmatic: “I just want to continue tomorrow and get some wickets.” For India, the emergence of a young pacer who has deliberately worked on a fundamental aspect of his game, overcome physical setbacks, and learned from elite mentors, is a highly encouraging development, especially as the series progresses.
