‘Better than Hardik Pandya’ – Sunil Gavaskar Lavishes Praise on Nitish Kumar Reddy After His Century in MCG Test

India’s tour of Australia may not have delivered the desired results, but it has unearthed a gem in Nitish Kumar Reddy. The young cricketer has showed exceptional technique and temperament, cementing his place as a promising pace-bowling all-rounder and drawing comparisons to the best.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has hailed Nitish as a potential solution to India’s long-standing search for a Test all-rounder. In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar went so far as to claim that Nitish is a better batter than Hardik Pandya in the longest format of the game.

“Ever since the unavailability of Hardik Pandya for Test cricket, India has been looking for an all-rounder who can bowl medium pace and bat as well. Reddy’s bowling is still a work in progress, but as a batter, he is definitely better than Pandya was around the same time,” wrote Gavaskar.

Nitish’s impact has been undeniable, even in a series where India has struggled to find consistency. Often walking into precarious situations, Nitish has consistently bailed the team out, demonstrating remarkable composure.

His standout performance came in the Melbourne Test, where he struck a sublime century to keep India in contention. Though his heroics couldn’t prevent a loss, the innings silenced critics who questioned his selection after the first Test.

Nitish’s numbers further underline his importance. With 294 runs in seven innings at an impressive average of 49, he is India’s second-leading run-scorer in the series. Despite batting in the lower order, he has consistently contributed valuable runs, highlighting his adaptability and grit.

While his batting has been exemplary, Nitish’s bowling remains a developing aspect of his game. He provides the Indian team with a much-needed fourth seam option, although captain Rohit Sharma hasn’t utilized his bowling extensively on this tour.

The management recognizes his potential to fill a crucial gap in the team. If Nitish can improve his bowling and consistently perform as a quality fourth seamer, he could be the all-rounder India has been searching for since Hardik Pandya stepped away from Test cricket.

India’s past experiments with players like Shardul Thakur haven’t yielded consistent results in the all-rounder role. Nitish’s ability to deliver with the bat, coupled with his potential as a bowler, positions him as a long-term solution for the team.

The Melbourne century has shown that Nitish is capable of holding his place as a pure batter. With time and experience, his bowling can evolve, and his performances on this tour suggest that he could soon be a contender in the white-ball format as well.