Nitish Reddy Brings the Shine with the Ball at Lord's as his Hard Work Bears Fruit

Nitish Reddy took everyone by surprise with his bowling act in the first day of the Lord's Test as he became India's highest wicket-taker. Although he was the slowest among the four Indian pace bowlers, he was extremely controlled and swinging. He bowled 14 overs and claimed two important wickets in his first over itself. These wickets were that of England's openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. The young cricketer explained that he was concentrating on his bowling consistency and had been practicing it ever since the beginning of the tour which had included an India A match and an intra-squad match. He was pleased with how his day went on the first day and would like to take the same momentum into the remainder of the match.

The 22-year-old revealed that since the Australia tour he had felt a great urge to be more consistent in his bowling. He confirmed that he understood the value of this aspect of his game and made a conscious decision to improve it seriously. Discussing advice he had received he discussed how beneficial Pat Cummins has been to him in his growth. Nitish plays for Cummins in the IPL and he stated that Pat has always provided him with good advice. He discussed how Pat has enlightened him on how to bowl in Australia and how to deal with situations. Nitish was thankful for the tips and stated that learning from an elite bowler like Pat Cummins has benefited him immensely. He is of the view that exchanging ideas and knowledge with such a brilliant player has been a wise thing for him to do.

Nitish also explained how much he has gained from working alongside Morne Morkel, the Indian team's bowling coach. Morne is training him for the last couple of weeks and Nitish himself feels that there has been considerable improvement in his performance. He stated that they have been concentrating on consistency since he is capable of swinging the ball both ways and now the target is to control all areas. Nitish explained that the hard work they have been doing is beginning to bear fruit. He is thoroughly enjoying his training from Morne Morkel and believes that his bowling is going in the correct direction. In his opinion bowling consistency has emerged as a prime area of concern in the last one to two years and he has made it a point to work on it even more.

Talking about his ordeal prior to this match Nitish frankly described the difficult period he endured owing to an injury. He had pulled his side while playing in a T20I match against England in January and it took some time for him to get fit. He admitted that it was tough for him to get back into his rhythm after his injury. He did not bowl initially at the beginning of the IPL season and was only able to bowl in the nets in the later part of the league. Actually he bowled only five competitive overs in the whole IPL. It was a disappointing phase for him but he tried hard and continued to attempt getting back to his level best.

Even the injury setback did not deter Nitish from his objective. He realized that he had to get his rhythm back and his confidence. He informed that in the latter half of the IPL season he was able to bowl once again and that improved his mood. Gradually but surely, he began to improve and get back to match fitness. Nitish told that it was a slow process of recovery but he remained patient and continued working hard.

When he eventually played the ball at Lord's, he stated that he just wanted to have fun and play for the team. He did not really focus on the pressure or expectations. He just wanted to do what the team asked him to do and he is happy that he was able to perform. Nitish expressed that he is satisfied with his bowling and he is eagerly anticipating maintaining the same form on the next days of the match. His only concern is to get more wickets and contribute to the team's lead in the game.

Nitish Reddy's tale is one of inspiration since it displays how perseverance and hard work can bring achievement despite failures. He is young yet his maturity and discipline in managing both injury and enhancing his game have been noteworthy. Not only has he focused on developing his physical fitness but also consulted with older players and coaches to improve his skills. His sense of being able to swing the ball and have good line and length is an optimistic addition to Indian cricket.

That he bowled as many overs as experienced pacer Mohammed Siraj indicates the faith placed on him by the team. The manner in which he helped hold the English batsmen in check and deliver vital breakthroughs in his very first over indicates that he can deliver under pressure. The focus term in this instance is Nitish Reddy and it is evident that he has made huge strides in his cricket career.

With the likes of Pat Cummins and Morne Morkel mentoring him and with his own strong resolve to develop as a bowler Nitish is on the right track. His show at Lord's has established that he's good enough for the role and possesses the talent to deliver during the crunch situations. Throughout the remaining season fans will be sure to watch as this young Indian bowler continues to play and elevate his game.