India's emerging all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy when asked about the player who has been his most influential mentor, Reddy surprised many by naming KL Rahul. Rather than selecting seasoned cricketers like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, Reddy revealed that Rahul's guidance has been invaluable. He revealed how Rahul's advice has majorly contributed to his growth as a cricketer.
Nitish Kumar Reddy's go-to person is KL Rahul
Despite his impressive performances with both bat and ball in previous Test matches, especially in challenging conditions in Australia and England, Shardul Thakur was surprisingly overlooked by the selection committee. Instead, the role of the fourth seamer was entrusted to Nitish Reddy.
Before making his Test debut, Reddy had already gained experience in the Indian T20I team, showcasing his skills in three matches. His recent performance in Perth was particularly noteworthy. When India found themselves in a precarious position in the first innings, Reddy stepped up to contribute a crucial 41 runs. He followed this up with a blistering 27-ball 38 in the second innings, demonstrating his aggressive batting abilities. Moreover, he claimed one wicket in the match, showcasing his all-round potential.
In a recent interview shared on BCCI.TV, Nitish Reddy revealed that whenever he faces any challenges or have any problem, he doesn't hesitate to approach Rahul for advice.
He went on to explain why he finds Rahul such a valuable mentor. Reddy described a sense of positive energy, or 'good vibes', he receives from Rahul. More importantly, Reddy said that the advice Rahul provides consistently proves helpful during matches.
"If I have any problems, I just want to go & talk with KL Bhai, I somehow feel good vibes from him, whatever suggestions he gives that works for me, give me suggestions before I went to bat & it worked as well," Nitish Reddy stated.
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โTo be honest, I was not serious when I was young. My father left his job for me and there has been a lot of sacrifice behind my story. One day, I saw him crying because of financial problems we were facing and I was like this is not how you can be that my father made the sacrifices and you play cricket just for fun. At that time, I became serious and I got the growth, I worked hard and it paid off," Nitish further stated.
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"As a son from a middle-class family, I am so proud that my father is happy now. I gave my first jersey to him and saw happiness in his face and I feel very proud," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Australia have made a big change in their playing XI for the Day-Night Test against India in Adelaide. Scott Boland has replaced the inured Josh Hazlewood in Australia's playing XI.
Australia's playing XI against India in Adelaide Test
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc