Nitish Kumar Reddy used his IPL contacts to prepare for his first Test tour of England. Reddy, an all-rounder, didn’t do so well with the ball during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour in Australia. Knowing he needed to improve to keep his place on the team for the England tour, Reddy asked his Sunrisers Hyderabad captain, Pat Cummins, for advice about English conditions. Cummins told him that the weather plays a big part in England.
“I just asked him (Pat Cummins, his captain at Sunrisers Hyderabad) what’s the difference between Australia and England since this is my first tour and he said that it’s not going to be like a change but you watch about the weather conditions and just play your game,” Reddy mentioned during the press meeting after the day’s play. He added, “You will get to know because obviously I am going to play two India A tour two games so he said just try to learn as much as you can and you will get on there.”
Reddy stated that he also spoke at length with India bowling coach Morne Morkel. “I have had chats with Morne as well. We are seeing good progression in my bowling and I am really enjoying working with him,” he said.
Reddy shared that after the Australia tour, he decided to improve his bowling. On Thursday, the medium pacer showed he had improved his skills with the ball. Reddy bowled 44 overs in the five-match series in Australia (2024-25), but before the England tour, he didn’t bowl much in the IPL, which raised questions about his all-round skills. But on the first day of the third Test, Reddy dismissed England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley in his first over, slowing down the opposition.
“After Australia tour I felt like I have to improve my bowling and consistency is what I look to achieve, he said.