Reddy Aims for Bowling Consistency After Lord's Test Breakthrough

Reddy Focuses on Consistency After Lord's Breakthrough

Nitish Reddy emerged as the standout bowler for India on the first day of the Lord's Test, claiming crucial wickets early in the innings. Introduced into the attack in the 14th over, Reddy bowled a total of 14 overs, matching Mohammed Siraj's workload, and secured the dismissals of both Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley in his very first over.

Nitish Reddy dismissed the English openers in his first over © Getty

The 22-year-old seamer, known for his subtle variations, extracted significant swing and maintained disciplined lines and lengths throughout the day. This control played a key role in restricting England's scoring. Reddy emphasized that this bowling consistency has been his primary objective since the beginning of the tour, including his appearances in an India A game and an intra-squad match.

Reddy revealed that discussions with his IPL captain Pat Cummins and the Indian team's bowling coach Morne Morkel have been instrumental in his development. "After the Australia tour, I felt like I had to improve my bowling, and consistency was the main focus," Reddy stated.

He elaborated on Cummins' influence: "Pat is my captain, and he has been brilliant in Australia. I asked him for tips, and he shared his experiences and strategies from Australia. It's been a great learning experience."

The guidance from Morne Morkel has also been invaluable. "Working with Morne Morkel on this tour has been fantastic. We've been working together for a couple of weeks, and I'm seeing good progress in my bowling. I'm really enjoying it. We're focusing on consistency, as I have some swing in both directions, and I want to be consistent across all areas. I've been working hard on my bowling for the past year or two," he added.

Reddy acknowledged the challenges of maintaining his bowling workload during the IPL, particularly after suffering a side strain in a T20I against England in January. He didn't bowl at the start of the IPL season and only began bowling in the nets later in the tournament, ultimately bowling a mere five overs in competitive matches.

"After the injury, it was tough to get back into my rhythm. The side strain was a bit of a setback. Towards the end of the IPL season, I got back to bowling and started getting into the matches, and I felt great," Reddy explained.

Reflecting on his performance, Reddy concluded, "I just wanted to enjoy the moment and bowl what my team wanted from me. I think I did that, and I'm happy with how I bowled today. I want to continue that tomorrow and take more wickets."