Young Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was one of the two debutants along with pacer Harshit Rana, who were handed their first Test title today in the first match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series in Perth.

Reddy, 21, put up a promising display and finished as the top scorer for the Indian team with a deft knock of 41 runs. Nitish’s strong knock was one of the few positives in a lackluster batting display in which the visitors were bowled out for 150.

Speaking after the day’s match, Nitish Kumar Reddy revealed what coach Gautam Gambhir had said in the pre-match discussion that motivated him.

Nitish said: “Our coach said you are playing for the country and in places like Perth there will be bounce, take it on your shoulder, take it on your body, it is like taking a bullet for your country. “That really pushed me.”

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Nitish Kumar Reddy’s coup revived India from its problems

Reddy entered the crease with India struggling at 73 for 6. The right-hander played a pivotal role, adding 48 runs for the seventh wicket in partnership with Pant.

During his impressive knock, Reddy smashed six boundaries and sixes before falling to Pat Cummins. The Australian skipper dismissed him with a short delivery that resulted in a shot.

Following the contributions of Reddy and Pant, which took India to 150, stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah put in an impressive performance. He claimed four wickets, leaving Australia reeling at 67 for 7 in 27 overs at the end of Day 1 in Perth.

As the stumps were drawn, Alex Carey remained unbeaten on 19, with Mitchell Starc on six. The hosts trail by 83 runs in their first innings, with only three wickets remaining.

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