Ganesh Kendale
Nitish Kumar Reddy made a significant impact on the international stage with a stellar half-century in just his second T20I match. The 21-year-old rose to the occasion when India found themselves under pressure after losing three wickets early during the powerplay in the second T20I against Bangladesh on Wednesday (9 October).
Reddy exhibited composure and strategically navigated the challenging phase at the start of his innings.Once presented with a free-hit opportunity, he unleashed his aggression, sending the Bangladesh bowlers to all corners of the field.
He formed a crucial partnership with Rinku Singh, adding 108 runs for the fourth wicket, which propelled India into a commanding position.
During the second T20I, which India won by 86 runs, Reddy showcased his striking ability, securing his first half-century off just 27 balls. He was in exceptional form, hitting seven sixes and four fours to finish with an impressive 74 runs off 34 deliveries.
His innings exemplified high-quality cricket – combining powerful hitting with an astute ability to find gaps, leaving the Bangladesh spinners at a loss for answers at times.
Adjudged the Player of the Match, Nitish said, “Feels great to represent India, feel so proud about this moment. Grateful for everything. I should give credit to captain (Suryakumar Yadav) and coach (Gautam Gambhir). They gave me the licence to play fearless cricket. I took my time initially, but after that no-ball everything went in my favour. It feels great to play for the Indian team. I want to continue in this same way. Want to keep repeating such good performances.
A look at the key stats from India vs Bangladesh 2nd T20:
– India posted their biggest T20I score against Bangladesh with 221/9. The previous highest was 196/5 in North Sound during the T20 World Cup 2024
– India now have 20 match wins in the T20I format in 2024. India have won 95.23% of their matches this calendar year – it is the best-ever for a team that played at least 12 T20Is in a year. On the whole, Uganda (29), India (28 wins in 2022) and Tanzania (21) have more.
Most sixes in a T20I vs Bangladesh
15 by India in Delhi in 2024
14 by West Indies in Mirpur in 2012
13 by India at North Sound in 2024
– Nitish Kumar Reddy became the fourth youngest Indian to smash a half-century in the shortest format
Youngest at the time of maiden T20I fifty by an Indian
20y 143d Rohit Sharma 50* v SA Durban 2007
20y 271d Tilak Varma 51 v WI Providence 2023
21y 38d Rishabh Pant 58 v WI Chennai 2018
21y 136d Nitish Reddy 74 v Ban Delhi 2024
Most runs in an innings vs spin for an Indian batter in T20I
65 Abhishek Sharma vs Zim Harare 2024
57 Yuvraj Singh vs Pak Ahmedabad 2012
55 Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Aus Guwahati 2023
54 Virat Kohli vs Afg Dubai 2022
53 Nitish Reddy vs Ban Delhi 2024
