“To get the balance of the side” - Ravi Shastri calls for a different batting position for Nitish Kumar Reddy during BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has asked the team management to promote Nitish Kumar Reddy higher in the batting order following his exploits on Day 3 of the fourth Test in Melbourne on Saturday, December 28. Shastri reckoned that Reddy should play at "either 5 or 6" to allow the visitors to play five specialist bowlers, particularly in the fifth and final Test in Sydney.

Shastri’s reaction came before Reddy slammed his maiden Test century after scoring three promising 40s at the lower order in the series. The cricketer-turned-commentator told Star Sports during the tea break (via India Today):

"I feel that the way he's batted, this is the last time he will bat at 7. To get the balance of the side, you need him to go higher up the order, either 5 or 6 and then you have the opportunity of playing 5 bowlers to take the 20 wickets, and he's given that kind of confidence to the selectors and the team management and the captain.”

"Reddy is fully capable of batting in the top 6. Then it changes the whole balance of the game. You go to Sydney with him batting in the top 6, and you're playing five bowlers,” he added.

Nitish Kumar Reddy is currently India’s leading runscorer in the five-game series with 284 runs in six innings at an average of 71. He is only behind Travis Head, who has 409 runs in six innings, including two hundreds.

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Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar stole the show on Day 3

Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar stole the limelight on Day 3 on the way to their gritty century and fifty, respectively. The two players shared a crucial 126-run stand for the eighth wicket to provide renewed hopes for the tourists in their attempt to draw the game after the Aussies put up 474 in the first innings.

At Stumps on Day 3, India were 358/9, with Reddy (105* off 176) and Mohammed Siraj (2* off 7) at the crease. The visitors are trailing by 116 runs in their first innings. Skipper Pat Cummins and Scott Boland were the pick of the bowlers for the Aussies, returning with three wickets apiece.

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