London, July 11, 2025 — After a productive outing on Day 1 of the Lord’s Test, Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy opened up about the steady progress he has made in his bowling, crediting former South African pacer and Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel for his improvement.
The young Andhra cricketer dismissed England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, finishing with figures of 2/46 in 14 overs, and helping India gain early control in the opening session. Speaking after stumps, Nitish said, “I’ve seen good progression in my bowling. I’ve been working with Morne Morkel for a few weeks now and the experience has been fantastic.”
Nitish also acknowledged his Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins for sharing tips during the IPL and Australia tour. “Pat’s guidance helped me understand the Australian conditions better, and Morne has helped adapt that learning to England,” he said.
The 21-year-old, who scored a century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) earlier in the year during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is now eyeing another special milestone: his name on the Lord’s Honours Board. “It would mean everything to get a hundred here. That’s a dream for any cricketer,” he added.
Reddy has quietly become a reliable contributor for India, with 63 wickets in 31 first-class matches at an average under 30. His dual abilities have given India added balance, especially on overseas tours.
Talking about his bowling mindset, Nitish said he feels no pressure and is ready to adapt to whatever the team demands. “Whether it’s the fourth or sixth stump line, I just want to stick to the team’s plan and stay disciplined,” he noted.
He also shared insights into the Indian bowling unit’s approach, saying that senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah encourages patience and discipline. “Bumrah always says, ‘Just do the good work consistently.’ That’s what we did today,” he said.
At the close of Day 1, England were 251/4, with Joe Root unbeaten on 99 and Ben Stokes on 39. Despite a strong start by India, England regained control with a composed, traditional batting approach—stepping away from their usual ‘Bazball’ style.
As the series remains level at 1-1, all eyes will be on Day 2 to see if India’s bowlers can break through and restrict England further.
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