Should India Continue with Nitish Kumar Reddy?

London, July 11 (NationPress) Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble commended Nitish Kumar Reddy as a promising all-rounder, emphasizing that India requires a player like Reddy to disrupt partnerships and provide respite for the fast bowlers. On Day 1 of the Lord's Test, Reddy was entrusted with the new ball for the first time in this series, and he made an immediate impact by securing vital breakthroughs in his initial over, dismissing English openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley.

He caught Duckett down the leg side on his third delivery, as the batter failed to connect with a pull shot. Although Ollie Pope edged his very first delivery, Shubman Gill dropped a catch at slip. Just two balls later, Crawley nicked a stunning delivery that swung in, landing in Rishabh Pant's gloves behind the stumps.

"I was taken aback by how effectively Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled. He consistently targeted the right areas. That short ball down the leg side was a gift, yet he maintained discipline throughout. His delivery to Crawley was exceptional. At times, when you're out of form, things don’t go your way — and Crawley experienced that. Dhruv Jurel’s catch was remarkable.

"Ravindra Jadeja was probing that line before tea, and right after the break, he struck. Moreover, you can’t overlook Jasprit Bumrah; he bowled beautifully and claimed a crucial wicket. It’s hard to envision an innings where Bumrah isn't influential," Kumble remarked on JioHotstar.

“He performed quite well during the Australia tour — scoring a century with the bat and bowling decently despite not taking many wickets. What India needs from him is to break partnerships and allow the fast bowlers a breather while maintaining control.

"He bowled nearly 14 overs in one spell — showcasing his fitness and control. He’s young, possesses batting capabilities with a century to his name, and is a sharp fielder. India should stick with him and resist the urge to make frequent changes," he added.

Kumble also reflected on the match's progression on a challenging batting surface, stating, "It was clear from the outset that this would be a tough grind for the batters. The openers found it difficult to score off the new ball, and this pitch demanded hard work for runs. I believe the Indian bowlers consistently bowled in good areas — that’s one reason India managed to limit England to 251.

"England would likely be content with just four wickets down. I do feel India missed a trick after Jadeja achieved that breakthrough — I was surprised he didn’t continue bowling to Ben Stokes and instead changed ends. India might reflect tonight and think that one or two more wickets could have tilted the match in their favor. As it stands, it’s evenly balanced.

Joe Root displayed his class by accumulating runs on a tough and attritional day of Test cricket, remaining 99 not out as England reached 251/4 in 83 overs at stumps on Day 1.

Discussing India’s Day 2 objectives with the new ball, Kumble remarked, "Restricting England to under 300 — ideally under 320 — would be an excellent outcome for India. That would signify they’ve done a solid job in the first innings."

"The crucial factor will be how they commence with the new ball. If India can secure a couple of quick wickets early in the morning, the momentum will tilt back. However, if England manages a steady start, India will need to exert considerable effort," he concluded.