Debutant’s Lucky Escape Adds Drama to Action-Packed Border-Gavaskar Trophy Opener
In a dramatic first day of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth Stadium, Nitish Kumar Reddy emerged as India’s unlikely hero after surviving a controversial caught-behind appeal that could have changed the course of the match.
The Controversial Moment
The defining moment came in the 37th when Mitchell Starc delivered a testing back-of-length delivery. Trying to evade the ball, Reddy appeared to glove it to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Despite passionate appeals from the Australian camp and Carey’s confident “I think he’s hit it” claim, captain Pat Cummins chose not to review the decision.
Later analysis revealed a clear spike on Snicko as the ball passed Reddy’s gloves. Starc, known for his competitive spirit, couldn’t resist a playful jab at the debutant: “You got a good poker face, haven’t you? You must be good at poker.”
India’s Batting Struggles
The day began disastrously for India, who was reeling at 73-6. The top order crumbled under the pressure of Perth’s pace-friendly conditions:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early to Starc
- Devdutt Padikkal struggled before departing for a duck
- Virat Kohli succumbed to extra bounce from Hazlewood
- KL Rahul (26 off 74) fell to a controversial caught-behind decision
Reddy’s Remarkable Recovery
Making his Test debut, Nitish Kumar Reddy showed remarkable composure, particularly against spin. His innings included two confident reverse sweeps against Nathan Lyon, demonstrating his versatility. Partnering with Rishabh Pant (37), Reddy helped India cross the 100-run mark through a crucial 48-run stand.
The debutant’s innings of 41 off 59 balls, the highest score in India’s total of 150, showcased his potential at the international level. Considering India’s decision to drop veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for this Test, his performance gained extra significance.
Australian Response
In a dramatic turnaround, India’s bowlers struck back hard. Jasprit Bumrah led the attack brilliantly, reducing Australia to 24-3 in just 9.1 overs. His spell included the prized wickets of debutant Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, and Steve Smith.
Looking Ahead
This opening day has set the stage for an intriguing Test match. With both teams showing vulnerability with the bat and the Perth pitch offering plenty of assistance to the seamers, cricket fans can expect an exciting contest in the coming days.
The controversial non-review of Reddy’s caught-behind appeal adds another chapter to the rich history of dramatic moments in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, highlighting how split-second decisions can potentially influence the course of a match.