• By Namrata Vijay
  • Thu, 10 Oct 2024 09:14 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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IND vs BAN, 2nd T20I: Star India cricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy put up a match-winning performance in the 2nd T20I against Bangladesh in Delhi on Wednesday. The youngster, who scored an unbeaten knock of 16 runs in the series opener, scored his first fifty when he came into bat at a crucial juncture for the team.

The Suryakumar Yadab-led side was tottering at 25/2 and it went to 41/3 quickly Reddy played maturity and helped the team bounce back. He first began playing aggressively after facing the first 13 balls as he held one end of the innings since the team was under pressure.

But after he got comfortable, he went all-guns-blazing against spinners and played some brilliant shots. He scored his fifty off just 27 balls and smashed Mehidy Hasan Miraz for three consecutive sixes and a four. Although, he was dismissed after scoring 74 runs off 34 balls, in which he had smashed four fours and seven sixes.

Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav makes shocking statement after India suffer batting collapse in 2nd T20I against Bangladesh, says, 'I wanted that situation'

After scoring a match-winning knock of 74 runs during the first innings, Reddy also made significant contributions with the ball in the four overs that he bowled and conceded just 23 runs. He took the wickets of Mahmudullah and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. He also became the first Indian cricketer to have scored 70 runs and also take two wickets in T20Is.

Talking about his match-winning performances, Reddy highlighted how he planned his knock and how he also took wickets and thus proved his all-rounder skills.

I took my time and once I saw the over I needed to attack that’s where everything changed: Nitish

“We were 3 down and we knew we were in a pressure situation, but we always plan in the dressing room that we need to play fearless cricket. That’s what helped me, I guess. I took my time and once I saw the cover I needed to attack, that’s where everything changed. It’s my plan, to be honest, like at that moment, Bangladesh was having great momentum at that time. So, we were thinking let’s take some time. I felt that no ball just changed everything. When I got that no ball six, and then we got charged up and everything went in the right way. So that’s the over we targeted, obviously off-spinner is bowling to right-hander so obviously it’s big but I was backing my power,” Nitish Kumar was quoted as saying on Sports18.

“To be honest, yes I’m working on my bowling as well. Like I want to bring more consistency, whatever I want to bowl, I want to be more clear. So that will help me to perform as a good all-rounder. Morne Morkel, he’s a good person, he’s giving me a lot of confidence as well. So I feel so grateful that he’s there in our team. The plans and all, it’s very different here, it was very helpful for me as well like for my skill,” he concluded.

Nitish will now aim to end the series perfectly as the third and last T20I will be held at his home in Hyderabad on Saturday.

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