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All of 22 years of age at present. An experience of not less than 30 first-class games to his name already. A triple century from Andhra Pradesh, his home region, which came seven years back in the day in the 2017-18 season of the celebrated Vijay Merchant Trophy and what followed next was actually a 441-run-knock (vs Nagaland during his Under-16 days).
Moreover, he's already scored a Test century and that too, several miles way from the home comfort of playing in India and actually Down Under in Australia during the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Time for change?
Nitish Kumar Reddy is currently on a high. As a matter of fact, he's already with India's Test squad in England and chances are, should sense prevail, that the young and able middle to lower middle order batter must be contended with where the next game stands.
What India crucially needs, now more than ever, is a Test match victory. A drawn Test would be considered, under the right circumstances, a loss. Why? For our batters have already gotten the hang of sticking around English bowlers and have already notched up hundreds.
Not one, but five of them. 5 Test centuries in two innings of a single Test that's been held, recently concluded at Headingley's Leeds.
What happens next?
But while KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal up top have dominated the charts, and gotten to their individual three-figure scores, it's India's lower-order, as seen so far, that's been found wanting.
And that is when England are playing sans Mark Wood or Jofra Archer with even Gus Atkinson out of the team in recovering from a hamstring injury.
At this time where one needs to hang in there and actually press on with the bat whilst set in the middle, someone like Nitish Kumar Reddy, with age and exuberance on his side, must be, should be contended with.
That doesn't mean we discount the talent that someone like Shardul Thakur brings, someone who's previously been here in England for India's Test duties.
But a long Test series could even end in a flash when the wins don't come. And for those to happen, the team's think-tank, the captain in midst of it, need to make some bold calls, some fine adjustments.
Fine tuning, isn't only restricted to get the best sound out of the guitar, as one would note. Cricketing symphony happens with the right chords are adjusted to produce enhanced sound on the 22 yards.
A focused, determined youngster who prefers to keep it low key and doesn't believe in shenanigans is what likens one to Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Moreover, from the little one has seen of the right handed batter, it seems focus is his middle name.
Random call? Anything but!
In his only away Test tour, the one that happened a little over half a year back in time, Reddy scored a fighting century against Australia. It's one thing to score a Test ton versus Australia, but a true reflection of grit to conquer their bowlers and then to score one Down Under.
Unless one's very much mistaken, Reddy's 105 not out at the celebrated MCG happens to be a world record score at the ground in terms of a highest individual knock for a batter playing at number 8 or lower.
India has in their ranks a promising talent. And the place for talent is the pitch. Not off it.
While he is with the team in England, why bench him? Play him. Now!
In another 2 runs, he'll reach 300 Test runs and has already played 5 Tests with an average of 37. Shardul can wait for a bit before India's new gun can step in and help the team before further pressure builds.
