Sunday marked a significant day for young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, as he officially stepped into India’s One-Day International squad. At Optus Stadium in Perth, he proudly received his debut ODI cap from captain Rohit Sharma, marking a monumental milestone in his burgeoning career. This eagerly anticipated moment saw Reddy preparing to make his mark in the 50-over format.
Perth holds a special significance for Nitish, as it was the very ground where he previously made his Test debut during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024. On that occasion, he received his Test cap from batting maestro Virat Kohli and wasted no time in making an impression with a vital 41 runs in his first innings. Reddy’s impressive form continued throughout the series, as he featured in all five Tests, including a memorable century at the iconic MCG, firmly establishing himself as one of India’s brightest and most promising young talents.
An interesting discussion unfolded where Shubman Gill addressed alleged tensions with Rohit Sharma.
The day also saw Australia celebrating its own fresh talent, with Matt Renshaw and Mitch Owen proudly receiving their ODI caps. While Nitish’s debut was met with high expectations, stemming from his recent impressive performances, Renshaw and Owen embarked on their new international careers, each filled with immense promise and anticipation for the matches ahead.
India’s Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
Australia’s Playing XI: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Matthew Short, Josh Philippe (wicketkeeper), Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.
Australia, having won the toss, elected to field first. Cricket enthusiasts are particularly thrilled as veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the Indian lineup after a 223-day hiatus. Their presence is expected to add immense experience and firepower to the top order. All attention will be on these two stalwarts as they take the field under the leadership of young captain Shubman Gill, signalling the dawn of a new and exciting era for Indian ODI cricket.