‘Nitish Kumar Reddy is a genius’, gushes Michael Clarke

Even though India lost the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s maiden Test hundred in the first innings of India in the Test match remains one of the talking points. With a total of 294 runs and three wickets in the series, the 21-year-old all-rounder has impressed former Australian captain Michael Clarke.
“Reddy, this young kid batting at number eight, is a genius. I think he has definitely got to bat seven if not six. He has been India’s leading run-scorer, 21 years of age, unbelievable. He has been underrated in the entire series,” Clarke told Beyond 23 Cricket Podcast.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s seven innings in Test matches have seen him record three 40-plus scores apart from his maiden Test hundred at Melbourne. With the Indian top-order struggling in the series with only two centuries in the series, Clarke believes that the Andhra Pradesh all-rounder should be moved up the order.
“He has impressed everyone. He has not feared any Australian bowler. He has been patient when he has needed to be patient. He has batted with the tail extremely well. He has shown his intent. He bats, bowls and fields. This guy is a very good find for the Indian cricket team. I think he is good enough to bat at number six. So what a great option for India going into the last Test match,” Clarke added about Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar too had praised Nitish Kumar Reddy. The Indian legend, who met Nitish Kumar Reddy’s family during the Melbourne Test, thrown his weight behind the young star.
“The Melbourne Test brought to the fore one of the brightest young stars in Indian cricket, Nitish Kumar Reddy. In his debut Test match in Perth itself, it became evident that here was a cricketer who could read situations and play accordingly. With every subsequent Test match, that impression of a good ‘cricketing head’ on his shoulders began to get stronger and stronger,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.

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