Cricket

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has shed light on the selection of uncapped players Harshit Rana and Nitish Reddy for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Gambhir praised Rana's bowling prowess, stating that he has bowled extensively and is ready to face the Aussies with fresh legs. He also highlighted Reddy's potential, expressing confidence that he can contribute significantly if given the opportunity.Gambhir hinted at a shift in the team's composition, suggesting that certain players may not be part of the future plans. However, he did not explicitly mention Shardul Thakur, who was surprisingly omitted from the squad."It's about moving forward, and we believe this is the best set of players to represent the country," Gambhir said.Rana and Reddy have earned their selections based on impressive performances in the domestic circuit. Their inclusion comes after India's disappointing home series loss to New Zealand, which has made their path to the World Test Championship (WTC) final more challenging.To qualify for the WTC final, India must win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by 4-0. The series opener will be played in Perth, followed by a day-night Test in Adelaide, a match at The Gabba in Brisbane, the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, and the final Test in Sydney.India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Series:* Rohit Sharma (c)* Jasprit Bumrah (vc)* Ravichandran Ashwin* Mohammad Shami* Abhimanyu Easwaran* Shubman Gill* Ravindra Jadeja* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Dhruv Jurel (wk)* Sarfaraz Khan* Virat Kohli* Prasidh Krishna* Rishabh Pant (wk)* KL Rahul* Harshit Rana* Nitish Kumar Reddy* Mohammed Siraj* Washington SundarAustralia's squad for the first Test:* Pat Cummins (c)* Scott Boland* Alex Carey* Josh Hazlewood* Travis Head* Josh Inglis* Usman Khawaja* Marnus Labuschagne* Nathan Lyon* Mitch Marsh* Nathan McSweeney* Steve Smith* Mitchell Starc

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has lauded the Indian cricket team's performance in the second T20I against Bangladesh, highlighting the team's temperament and the foresight of the coaching staff.India's young talent Nitish Reddy shone with both bat and ball, scoring a half-century and taking two wickets as India secured an impressive 86-run victory over Bangladesh in New Delhi on Wednesday.Despite losing three wickets inside the Powerplay, India recovered to post a formidable total of 221 for 9, thanks to explosive fifties from Reddy and Rinku Singh. The bowlers then restricted Bangladesh to 135 for 9, securing a comprehensive win.Ali praised the Indian players' composure and the coaching staff's forward-thinking approach. "The thought process is very important, which is missing in Pakistani cricket," he said on his YouTube channel. "India rested Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal but nobody rests in our team. So, please learn something from India."Ali particularly commended Reddy's six-hitting prowess, calling them "Aththe" instead of sixes. He also hailed Rinku Singh's batting, comparing him to former Australian all-rounder Michael Bevan."Gautam Gambhir's thinking has been a success," Ali added. "I am not saying that he will win the World Cup straight away. Even if he flops, Gautam won't stop backing him because they pick players and make them and this is the best example of that."In the match, Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first. They rattled India early, but Reddy and Rinku built a crucial partnership of 108 runs. Hardik Pandya then fired a quick 32 off 19 balls, helping India reach a big total.While chasing 222 runs, Bangladesh managed to keep up with the run-rate initially but kept losing wickets consistently. Mahmadullah was the only notable performer with 41 runs off 39 balls, including three sixes.With this victory, India won the three-match series 2-0. Nitish Kumar Reddy was named the 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding all-round performance.

Nitish Reddy, the promising Indian all-rounder, has credited the team management for giving him the freedom to play fearless cricket after his impressive performance in the second T20I against Bangladesh. The 21-year-old Andhra native played a pivotal role in India's victory, smashing a 34-ball 74 and claiming 2/23 with his medium-pace bowling.Reddy's innings was a display of power and confidence, as he took advantage of two early reprieves to hit a six off a free-hit thanks to a no-ball by Mahmudullah. He grew in confidence throughout his knock, helping India post an imposing 221/9.With the ball, Reddy showcased his versatility, bowling with accuracy and control to restrict Bangladesh to 135/9. His performance earned him praise from skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who said, "I wanted that situation, wanted my batters (5,6,7) in that situation. Happy for both (Rinku Singh and Nitish) of them."Yadav also highlighted the importance of testing the middle-order batters, saying, "They batted exactly the way I wanted. You got to go out there and express. The message has been loud and clear - do what you do in the nets, and franchises. Just the jersey changes, rest remaining remains the same."Reddy's performance has further strengthened India's position in the series, giving them an unassailable 2-0 lead going into the final T20I in Hyderabad on October 12. The all-rounder's fearless approach and ability to contribute with both bat and ball have made him a valuable asset to the Indian team.

Indian Batters Blaze to 221/9 in Second T20I Against BangladeshThe Indian cricket team's batters unleashed a fiery assault on Bangladesh in the second T20I in Delhi on Wednesday, posting an imposing total of 221/9. Nitish Reddy and Rinku Singh led the charge with blistering half-centuries, while Hardik Pandya provided a late surge.After a sluggish start that saw three wickets fall in the Powerplay, Reddy and Rinku rescued India with a magnificent 100-plus partnership. Reddy, playing only his second T20I, showcased his immense talent with a scintillating 74 off 34 balls, including seven maximums and four boundaries. Rinku, known for his explosive hitting, contributed 53 off 29 balls, smashing five boundaries and three sixes.Reddy's innings was particularly impressive, as he played with a maturity beyond his years. He reached his maiden T20I fifty in just 27 balls and continued to punish the Bangladesh bowlers with his powerful strokeplay. Rinku, too, displayed his big-hitting prowess, smashing the first six of the match off leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.Hardik Pandya, who came to the crease after Reddy's departure, maintained the momentum with a quickfire 32 off 19 balls. He hit two sixes and two fours, including a boundary that surpassed MS Dhoni's tally of 116 fours in T20Is.Despite the impressive batting display, India's top-order struggled against the pace trio of Tanzim Hasan, Mustafizur Rehman, and Taskin Ahmed. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma were dismissed cheaply, while Suryakumar Yadav fell to a slower delivery from Mustafizur.Bangladesh's bowlers fought back in the latter stages, with Mustafizur and Taskin claiming three wickets each. However, the Indian batters had already done enough damage to set up a challenging target for the visitors.

Nitish Reddy, the rising star of Indian cricket, showcased his exceptional power-hitting abilities in the second T20I against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. In his second international match, Reddy displayed his aggressive strokeplay, smashing two consecutive mighty sixes off leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.Reddy, known for his fearless batting style, entered the crease early after India lost two wickets for 25 runs. Initially, he took some time to settle down, scoring 13 runs off the first 13 balls with a lone boundary. However, he soon shifted gears, scoring 37 runs in the next 14 balls, including two fours and four sixes, racing away to his maiden fifty.Reddy targeted Hossain in particular, spotting his deliveries early. In the 10th over, he unleashed two back-to-back meaty blows off the leg-spinner. The first six was a powerful loft over the bowler's head, clearing the boundary with ease. The second was an equally impressive shot, as Reddy got down on one leg to hit it over deep mid-wicket, landing deep into the stands.These clean and effortless strikes stunned Hossain and the crowd, who erupted in applause. Reddy's ability to take on spin with confidence and authority added valuable runs to the total and shifted momentum in the team's favor.Reddy's performance in the second T20I highlighted his potential as a future star for India. His aggressive strokeplay and ability to hit boundaries at will make him a valuable asset to the team. As he gains more experience at the international level, Reddy is expected to continue to make a significant impact on the game.

SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) face a dilemma as all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy's potential international debut could impact their retention strategy for the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. Reddy has been called up to India's 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.If Reddy makes his debut, SRH will lose the option to retain him as an uncapped player, which would significantly increase his retention cost. Under IPL's latest retention rules, an uncapped player can be retained for Rs 4 crore, while a capped player would require a minimum retention fee of Rs 11 crore.Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes SRH would be hoping that Reddy does not make his debut, as it would allow them to retain him for a lower price. "They would be praying that Nitish Kumar Reddy remains uncapped. They would be saying - 'Please don't play him in the T20I series'," Chopra said.Chopra also suggested that SRH should prioritize the retentions of captain Pat Cummins and young India batter Abhishek Sharma. "They have to firstly retain the captain and Abhishek Sharma. You have to retain Heinrich Klaasen and it's great if you can get Travis Head," he added.SRH's retention strategy will be crucial in shaping their team for the upcoming IPL season. The franchise will need to balance the need to retain key players with the financial constraints imposed by the retention rules.

Nitish Kumar Reddy's international debut has been put on hold due to an undisclosed injury, forcing him to withdraw from India's T20I tour of Zimbabwe. Shivam Dube has been called up as his replacement in the 15-member squad.Reddy, a promising 21-year-old seam bowling allrounder, earned his maiden India call-up after an impressive IPL 2024 season with Sunrisers Hyderabad. He amassed 303 runs at a strike rate of 142.92 and claimed three wickets in 13.1 overs.In his second IPL innings, Reddy played a pivotal role in SRH's two-run victory over Punjab Kings, scoring a quickfire 64 off 37 balls. He also contributed an unbeaten 76 off 42 balls against Rajasthan Royals later in the tournament. With the ball, he dismissed notable batters like Rishabh Pant, Tristan Stubbs, and Jitesh Sharma.Reddy has been part of the BCCI's target group of young players under the NCA's supervision for the past year. His replacement, Shivam Dube, is a member of India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad. While his performance in the tournament has been modest, he had a stellar IPL 2024 season.Dube, primarily batting in the middle overs, emerged as Chennai Super Kings' spin-hitter, scoring 396 runs in 14 games at a strike rate of 162.29. He was CSK's second-highest run-scorer behind Ruturaj Gaikwad.India will face Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I series in Harare starting on July 6. With senior players rested, Shubman Gill will lead the squad, which includes maiden India call-ups for Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Tushar Deshpande.

Nitish Reddy, a 20-year-old seam bowling all-rounder, has emerged as a promising talent in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite being a raw talent, Reddy has showcased exceptional skills with both bat and ball.In his first season with regular game time, Reddy has impressed with his batting prowess, scoring 276 runs in 10 games with an average of 46 and a strike rate of 151.64. His two half-centuries, including a match-winning 64 against Punjab Kings, have highlighted his ability to handle pressure situations.Reddy's batting range is evident in his ability to pull pacers and reverse-sweep spinners for boundaries. His captain at Andhra, Ricky Bhui, has praised his adaptability and fearless approach at the crease.While Reddy's batting has garnered attention, he has also contributed with the ball, taking three wickets in 12.1 overs. Bhui believes that Reddy has the potential to become a genuine all-rounder, citing his work ethic and continuous improvement.Reddy's breakthrough IPL campaign has raised expectations for his future. Bhui anticipates a larger role for him in the upcoming domestic season for Andhra, where he will aim to build on his recent performances.With his unique skillset and promising start, Nitish Reddy is a player to watch in the Indian cricket landscape. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset for any team, and his potential for growth is immense.