Thu Nov 21 23:05:36 UTC 2024: ## Young All-Rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy Key to India’s Australia Test Hopes: Bumrah
**Perth, Nov 22 (PTI)** – India’s stand-in Test captain Jasprit Bumrah hinted strongly at the inclusion of young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the playing XI for the first Test against Australia, starting Friday. Bumrah praised Reddy’s talent and confidence, highlighting his IPL experience and overall potential to bring balance to the team.
The series marks the maiden Test tour for several Indian players, including Reddy, speedster Harshit Rana, Devdutt Padikkal, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, and Dhruv Jurel. Bumrah expressed his admiration for the youngsters’ composure and self-belief, stating they are neither confused nor intimidated by the challenge of playing in Australia. He emphasized that their confidence is a key factor in their leadership.
While Bumrah remained tight-lipped about the exact team composition, he confirmed Virat Kohli is in excellent form, a positive sign for India. He also stressed the importance of self-belief regardless of experience, drawing parallels to his own approach and emphasizing the exponential growth potential for players who succeed in Australia.
Bumrah acknowledged the 0-3 defeat against New Zealand but stated the team has learned from their past mistakes and is approaching this series with a fresh perspective. He advised the younger players on the importance of handling both good and bad days equally well in order to succeed at the international level.
First Piper 