Team India are set to face off against Australia in the first Test of the five-match Test series in Perth starting from November 22. India will definitely need the presence of a fast bowling all-rounder and they have Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana in the squad. Indian Express reports that the team management has decided to play Reddy in the Perth Test and hence he will be definitely getting his Test cap in that game.
He will definitely be the fourth pacer in the team with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and one among Harshit Rana or Akash Deep being the third pacer in the team. The Perth pitch is expected to be a green top which will be fast and will have ample movement for the seam bowler. Hence, Reddy will definitely get a lot of help from the surface. Moreover, he is also a good batsman and has a good technique who can hold his own and bat down the order.
Nitish Kumar Reddy has been picked over Shardul Thakur for the BGT 2024/25
The team management picked Reddy over Shardul Thakur, who had notable performances in the last tour in 2020-21. Moreover, Thakur played as the seam bowling all-rounder in the side when India were travelling overseas. However, Head Coach, Gautam Gambhir has decided to back Reddy on this tour. He has played just three T20Is for India against Bangladesh and also has one half-century to show. Reddy has scored 779 runs at an average of 21.05 in 23 first-class matches. The seamer has also scalped 56 wickets in thos matches.
Rohit Sharma has not travelled with the rest of the team for the first Test due to the birth of his baby boy and hence he will miss the first Test in Perth. Jasprit Bumrah is set to captain the side in the first Test in his absence. Moreover, Shubman Gill will also be missing this Test match due to a thumb injury that he has suffered in the practice.
