In a heartwarming moment before India’s first ODI against Australia in Perth, former captain Rohit Sharma delivered an inspiring speech to debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy. Sharma expressed profound confidence in the 22-year-old all-rounder, predicting he would evolve into an ‘all-format great’ player, citing his exceptional attitude as the key.
This marked a significant return to Optus Stadium for Nitish, who had received his Test cap from Virat Kohli at the same venue during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy just eleven months prior. During the ODI cap presentation, Rohit’s words were full of encouragement, emphasizing Nitish’s immense potential and assuring him of unwavering team support.
Speaking to the young talent, Rohit stated, ‘Cap number 260, Nitish Reddy. You’ve had a fantastic start to your career, solely driven by your playing philosophy and your remarkable attitude. I am absolutely certain that with this mindset, you will achieve great things with the Indian team. You are destined to be an all-format great, a belief I hold strongly, especially after your speech yesterday where you expressed a desire to contribute everywhere – and that’s exactly where we want you.’ He concluded with a promise: ‘I am 110 percent sure the team will rally around you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, everyone will be there to support you. Good luck, and here’s to a brilliant career.’
In his debut performance, Nitish showcased his batting prowess by smashing two impactful sixes during India’s innings, which was frequently interrupted by rain. The match was eventually shortened to 26 overs per side due to the weather, making it challenging for India to build momentum.
KL Rahul contributed 38 runs off 31 balls before his dismissal. Nitish, however, remained unbeaten with a quickfire 19 runs from just 11 deliveries, helping India reach a total of 136 for 9 wickets. Despite his valiant efforts and late surge, Australia, under the leadership of stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh, secured a seven-wicket victory using the DLS method. Marsh himself remained unbeaten on 46 runs, guiding Australia to successfully chase down the target with 29 balls to spare.