Making his Test debut against Australia on Friday (November 22), Nitish Kumar Reddy admitted he felt some nervousness about facing the challenging conditions at Perth, known for its pacer-friendly wicket.
However, the young all-rounder drew confidence from a motivational conversation with head coach Gautam Gambhir, whose words stayed with him during his innings.
“I heard a lot about the Perth wicket. There was a bit of nervousness in the back of my mind about the bounce,”Nitish said at the post-match press conference.
“But then I remembered what Gautam sir told me after our last practice session. He said, ‘When you get a bouncer, take it on your shoulder. It’s like taking a bullet for your country.’ That just boosted me. When he said that, I felt like I needed to take the bullet for the country. It’s the best advice I’ve heard from Gautam sir.”
Nitish top-scored for India with 41 off 59 balls, offering a glimmer of hope amid a disappointing batting display that saw the visitors bowled out for 150. His gritty knock, which included a crucial 48-run partnership with Rishabh Pant, helped India recover from 73/6.
Reflecting on his performance, Nitish said, “It was a good start—not a dream innings, but decent. Playing in the India A series in Melbourne helped me a lot. There’s more bounce here compared to India, but it’s similar to Melbourne.”
Nitish and pacer Harshit Rana were informed of their Test debuts just a day before the match. To stay calm, the duo enjoyed a quiet dinner and went for a bike ride.
“We didn’t want to take too much pressure. A bike ride the evening before helped us relax,” he shared.
Receiving his maiden Test cap from his idol, Virat Kohli, was a moment Nitish will never forget. “It was a fantastic moment. I’ve always dreamed of playing for India, and getting the cap from Virat bhai, who is my idol, made it extra special.”
India struck back strongly after their batting collapse, with skipper Jasprit Bumrah leading the charge, taking 4-17 as Australia stumbled to 67/7 by stumps. Nitish praised Bumrah’s captaincy, noting his sharp field placements and tactical bowling changes.
“Bumrah is excellent as a captain. His decisions, like changing overs and spells, have been spot on,” he said.
Nitish also credited the bowlers’ disciplined approach for India’s success. “The plan was simple: hit the right areas and let the ball do the work. Bumrah, Siraj, and Harshit executed that perfectly.”
Speaking about his partnership with Rishabh Pant, Nitish highlighted the wicketkeeper-batter’s guidance during their stand. “Rishabh is an aggressive player who knows his game well. He was guiding me during our partnership, which made it easier to play my role.”
As the Perth Test unfolds, Nitish’s composed debut innings and his reflections on Gambhir’s inspiring words underline his potential to be a key figure in India’s future.