'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Emerging Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy lit up the first innings with his explosive 74 runs off just 24 deliveries in the second T20I against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Playing only his second match in international colors, the 21-year-old made the most of the opportunity after coming into bat at No.4.
India fell in early trouble as both opening batters were back in the pavilion midway through the powerplay. The hosts' crisis worsened when skipper Suryakumar Yadav was also dismissed quickly, leaving the score at 41-3 in the sixth over.
The duo of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh dominated the middle overs, with the former going berserk against the spinners. The all-rounder dispatched Mahmudullah and Rishad Hossain for boundaries, and then tonked three sixes in the 13th over bowled by Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Amid this carnage, he brought up his fifty off just 27 deliveries.
Nitish switched gears efficiently and looked to maintain the steep run of scoring as the innings headed towards the end of the middle overs. He tried to take on left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the 14th over. However, while he attempted to go big over the mid-wicket region, he was outfoxed by the cutter that claimed the leading edge. Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed a simple catch to end the youngster's memorable knock. Have a look at the dismissal right here:
As of writing, India are maintaining the scoring rate with the death overs commencing. Rinku Singh recorded his fifty while Hardik Pandya is dealing in sixes to take India closer to the 200-run mark in quick time.
Nitish Reddy becomes the fourth youngest Indian player to record a T20I fifty
The young all-rounder joined some elite names after recording his maiden T20I fifty at the age of 21 years and 136 days old. Only three players - Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Rishabh Pant have managed to achieve the feat at a younger age than Nitish Reddy.
The youngster received his maiden call-up for the Zimbabwe tour in July following his exploits for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). However, an injury delayed his debut and Shivam Dube proceeded to replace him in the squad.
