"That's going to be a headache now" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Indian youngster's impressive performance in BGT 2024-25

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that Nitish Kumar Reddy's impressive performance with the bat during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia could cause some selection headaches for the team going ahead. While praising the 21-year-old's batting effort in BGT 2024-25, Manjrekar opined that he has a long way to go as far as his bowling is concerned.

Reddy was a surprise choice in the Indian team for the five-match Test series Down Under. He was picked as an all-rounder. However, while the Andhra Pradesh cricketer made a big impact with the bat, which included a brilliant century in Melbourne, he failed to impress with his pace bowling.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar opined that Reddy is very raw when it comes to his bowling. He, however, admitted that the selectors would find it hard to ignore his case after his excellent showing with the willow in Australia.

"It's not going to be easy. He's got the fundamentals, so that's a long journey for him to become even a bit like Beau Webster, who looked good as a bowler. That's going to be a headache now for India because he's played the kind of innings that you don't see too many people playing," Manjrekar said.

"His innings quality wise was the best innings an Indian batter played in that series. It was not an attacking, you know, taking the bowlers on kind of innings. He showed every facet of his batting," the 59-year-old added.

While Reddy scored a wonderful 114 in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test after India had their backs to the wall, he ended the series with three low scores. Manjrekar hoped that the youngster can build on his brilliance in Melbourne.

"After that (hundred) there were three failures. So, you wonder where it's going. Let's hope that it's not just a one-innings wonder. But he's going to give India some headache because there's some serious batting talent there. Let's see how that pans out," the former India batter concluded.

Reddy was dismissed for one in the second innings of the Melbourne Test. He perished to Scott Boland for a golden duck in the first innings in Sydney and managed only four in the second innings.

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Nitish Kumar Reddy's stats in BGT 2024-25

Reddy played all five Tests in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He ended the series with 298 runs at a decent average of 37.25. Apart from the 114 in Melbourne, he scored 41 & 38* on debut in Perth and 42 in both innings of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.

With his medium pace, the 21-year-old claimed five wickets at an average of 38. He picked up one-wicket each in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane and two in Sydney.