How have Nitish Kumar Reddy & Harshit Rana performed in red-ball cricket before Test debut in BGT 2024-25? 

Delhi pacer Harshit Rana and Andhra Pradesh all rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy have been handed their debuts in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting Friday, November 22. The match is being played at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

The selection of the two players for this marquee tour was met with mixed reactions, with some arguing that it was a good call while others had their reservations. Both players have been playing domestic cricket for a while and will now be playing in whites for India.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, the recent winner of the Emerging Player of the Year award in the IPL this year, has played 23 matches so far on the domestic circuit. He has scored 779 runs at an average of 21.05 and has two fifties to his name to go along with a solitary hundred (159).

The 21-year-old most recently represented India A in the two unofficial Tests played ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. He scored 71 runs across four innings and picked up a solitary wicket as Australia A won both matches.

Harshit Rana has played only 10 first-class games so far. In his short career, he has picked up 43 wickets including a best of 7/45. He also has good credentials with bat in hand, scoring 469 runs in 14 innings, including a hundred and two fifties.

Rana was not a part of the India A touring party and most recently played a first class game for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy against Assam. Batting at number 8, he scored 59 off 78 balls and took 5/80 in the first innings.

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India have won the toss and elected to bat first in BGT 2024-25

Australia v India - Men's 1st Test Match: Day 1 - Source: Getty

Team India won the toss and elected to bat first at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The Indians have started shakily, losing an early wicket in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal (0 off 8), who nicked one behind off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.

At the time of writing, India are 8/1 after four overs. KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal are out in the middle for the visitors.