Nitish Kumar Reddy on Friday conceded that the popularity of Perth being a quick bowler’s paradise made him a tad nervous forward of his Check debut towards Australia however the jitters vanished when he recalled head coach Gautam Gambhir’s recommendation — face the bouncers as if “you take a bullet for the nation”. Nitish made a powerful 41 off 59 balls that lent a semblance of respectability to India’s general poor batting effort that yielded 150 of their first innings on the Optus Stadium.
“I heard loads in regards to the Perth wicket. There was a little bit of nervousness. It was at the back of my thoughts that everybody was speaking in regards to the bounce on Perth wicket. However then I remembered the chat I had with Gautam sir after our final observe session,” Nitish instructed reporters through the post-day press meet.
“He was mentioning that ‘while you get a bouncer, take it in your shoulder. It was like taking a bullet to your nation’. That simply boosted me. When he stated that I felt that I wanted to take the bullet for the nation. That is the very best factor I’ve heard from Gautam sir,” he added.
The 21-year-old revealed that he was instructed in regards to the impending debut a day forward of the primary Check, however gathered himself with a quiet dinner and a night spherical of biking.
“We acquired to know (him and pacer Harshit Rana) about our debut simply sooner or later in the past, and we had been excited. We had been having dinner and we had been preserving calm as final week.
“We didn’t need to take an excessive amount of stress. We had a cycle experience as properly final night, in order that was good.” he stated.
Nitish was delightfully shocked when star batter and his idol, Virat Kohli, handed him the Check cap within the morning.
“It was a terrific feeling (getting a cap from Kohli). I’ve at all times dreamed about taking part in for India and it was a unbelievable second. Virat bhai is my idol after I began taking part in cricket. So getting a cap from him was a cheerful second for me,” he gushed.
Nitish was real looking in regards to the starting he made in Check cricket, and admitted that taking part in for India A at Melbourne lately helped him perceive the Australian situations.
“It was an excellent begin, not a dream innings however an excellent begin. To be sincere, the India A collection helped me loads as a result of it was my first time to Australia.
“Taking part in on this wicket in comparison with India, there are loads of variations, the bounce and so forth. I felt there was extra (assist) off the wicket right here (than at MCG), however other than that the bounce and all the pieces was the identical as Melbourne,” he detailed.
Maybe, that have mirrored in his assault of Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon, whom he carted for a number of boundaries, together with a reverse sweep.
“I believed the wicket was good for the quick bowlers and I needed to make runs. When Nathan Lyon was bowling I noticed two or three balls with none drift. So, I considered taking up Lyon in order that we get some fast runs,” he stated.
Nitish and Rishabh Pant added 48 runs for the seventh wicket to hold India from 73 for six to 121 earlier than the latter acquired out for 37.
The Andhra cricketer stated it was an excellent expertise taking part in with Pant.
“It was good, you already know, Rishabh is an aggressive batsman. He is aware of his recreation properly and he was guiding me at the moment as properly. So, it was good taking part in with Rishabh,” he added.
The Indian bowling unit beneath Jasprit Bumrah counterpunched to scale back the Aussies to 67 for seven at shut, and Nitish stated self-discipline was the watch phrase of the visiting bowlers.
“We had been making an attempt to hit the best areas. We had been discussing disciplined bowling, so that is what I believe Bumrah, Siraj and Harshit have performed.
“Clearly, the wicket helps loads and we needn’t do loads to get the wicket, simply bowl in the best areas and let the ball do the remainder,” he stated.
Nitish additionally lauded Bumrah’s captaincy.
“He is superb…issues like change of overs and spells had been actually good,” he stated.
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