"If he can consistently bat at No. 6, India have got a terrific player" - Irfan Pathan lauds youngster's BGT 2024-25 performances

Irfan Pathan believes Nitish Kumar Reddy could be a great asset for India in Tests if he can consistently bat at No. 6. He pointed out that the youngster impressed with the bat on one of the toughest tours for a debutant.

India suffered a 1-3 defeat against Australia in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Reddy, who made his debut in the first Test in Perth and played all five games, was one of the visitors' star performers in the series.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Pathan termed Reddy an excellent prospect and noted that the seam-bowling all-rounder could solve India's combination issues.

"You have got an excellent prospect. It's not easy at all for any batter to make his debut in Australia. We might show his century, but he was batting very well before that, he was reaching the 40-run mark regularly," he said.

"However, when he scored a century, all of us started to feel that we got a player who could bat not at No. 8 or No. 7 but at No. 6. If he can consistently bat at No. 6, I feel he has that potential, India have got a terrific player, who can solve the combination to a large extent," the former India all-rounder added.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was India's second-highest run-getter in BGT 2024-25, aggregating 298 runs at an average of 37.25 in nine innings. He played a 114-run knock in India's first innings of the Boxing Day Test and scored three forties and an unbeaten 38 in his first four innings on the tour.

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"He can potentially become India's fifth bowler, especially in overseas conditions" - Irfan Pathan on Nitish Kumar Reddy

Nitish Kumar Reddy (right) picked up five wickets at an average of 38.00 in nine innings in BGT 2024-25. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Irfan Pathan opined that Nitish Kumar Reddy could play the fifth bowler's role for India, especially overseas, if he improves his bowling slightly.

"He did fail in his three innings after that, but we will still say that overall his tour of Australia was very good. If he keeps working a little on his bowling, he can potentially become India's fifth bowler, especially in overseas conditions," he said.

Reddy has a decent record with the ball in first-class cricket. The right-arm seamer has picked up 61 wickets at an average of 27.88 in 28 first-class games.