Nitish Kumar Reddy Shines on Day 1 of Third Test at Lord's
A Star Emerges in the Third Test
On the opening day of the third Test at Lord's, India witnessed the emergence of an unexpected talent in Nitish Kumar Reddy. The young all-rounder made a significant impact by dismissing both England openers and nearly unsettling Joe Root with a fierce bouncer that caught him off guard.
After England won the toss and opted to bat under clear skies, the spotlight was initially on Jasprit Bumrah's return. However, it was Reddy, often overlooked as a major threat in red-ball cricket, who stole the show during the morning session.
Introduced into the bowling attack after the drinks break, Reddy made an immediate impact. In his first over, he claimed the wicket of Ben Duckett, who scored 23 runs before being caught by Rishabh Pant while attempting a glance down the leg side. Just three balls later, Zak Crawley edged a delivery that moved late, resulting in a catch for the keeper after scoring 18 runs.
The standout moment came in the 16th over when Reddy bowled a surprise short ball that soared high. Joe Root, who had been composed until that point, was caught off guard. He stepped forward as if to drive but had to quickly retract as the ball flew past his head and into Pant's gloves.
Captain Shubman Gill, stationed in the slips, was ecstatic. He cheered in Telugu, saying, "Bagundi ra mawa!" which means "Very good, man!" The Indian slip fielders shared in the joy, smiling and applauding the impressive delivery.
Watch the video here:
Bagundi ra mawa - Gill to NKR
— Abhishek Reddy (@1_m_Abhishek) July 10, 2025
( save the video) might delete soon. pic.twitter.com/YmQn6nC30Z
More updates to come...