BIRMINGHAM, July 2, 2025 – India has reshuffled its bowling order for the Edgbaston Test against England, entrusting Nitish Kumar Reddy with a pivotal new role. With Jasprit Bumrah rested, bowling coach Morné Morkel is leaning on Reddy to shoulder greater responsibility in England’s seam‑friendly conditions.
During a media briefing on
Tuesday, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinted that Reddy would be slotted
into the playing XI alongside fellow all‑rounder Washington Sundar—emphasizing
his value to India’s lower‑middle order . Reddy’s fluency in both batting and bowling earned particular
praise, highlighting his adaptability .
A brief
recap of his rise
·
Roots in Andhra Pradesh:
Born on May 26, 2003 in Visakhapatnam, Reddy was spotted early by MSK Prasad.
His breakthrough came with a remarkable 441-run innings in the 2017–18 Vijay
Merchant Trophy .
·
IPL leap & Test debut:
Signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2023, he debuted for India in ODIs and T20Is
later that year. His Test credentials were strengthened with a debut in
November 2024 and a maiden century at the MCG during the Australia tour .
·
All‑round bowling role:
Currently boasting five Test wickets—all claimed Down Under—Reddy is now
expected to solidify India’s medium‑fast bowling ranks in England .
Coach’s confidence and team strategy
Morkel described Reddy as
a powerful asset with “potential to deliver key deliveries” and insisted he’s
ready for upsized role in Bumrah’s absence . The strategy is clear: brisk seam bowling backed by batting
reliability through No. 7 and 8, balancing the lineup for England’s swing
conditions .
Edgbaston debut looming
If Reddy plays today,
he’ll take the field at Edgbaston:
·
Batting: Slotting into
India’s No. 6 or 7, expected to deepen the middle‑order.
·
Bowling: Stepping up as
second‑seam bowling option behind Siraj/Akash Deep—a role highlighted after his
Test debut haul in Australia.
What
to watch for
1.
Batting
resilience: Can Reddy anchor the late‑innings
with stability?
2.
Bowling
impact: His ability to pitch in with wickets and
maintain pressure.
3.
Team
composition: The result of India’s trade‑off
between spin and pace depth.
Quick
profile
|
Detail |
Info |
|
Full name |
Kaki Nitish Kumar Reddy |
|
Birthday |
26 May 2003 (age 22) |
|
Batting / Bowling |
Right‑hand bat / Right‑arm medium‑fast |
|
Test debut |
22 Nov 2024 vs Australia |
|
Test stats |
5 matches, avg. 37.25, 5 wickets |
|
IPL |
Sunrisers Hyderabad (since 2023) |
Today’s Test action
Reddy is already making
an impact: England spear Chris Woakes clean‑bowled him early on Day 1 at
Edgbaston . Though dismissed, his presence in the XI is
meaningful—signaling India’s faith in his all‑round potential.
Bottom line
India’s move to deploy Nitish Kumar Reddy as a
seam‑bowling all‑rounder represents a calculated gamble—and a promising long‑term
investment. Whether he can seize the opportunity at Edgbaston will be a key
storyline unfolding today.
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