India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate explained that Ravichandran Ashwin was included in the XI for the second Test against Australia because the team believed his bowling suited the surface better. However, Ashwin bowled just one over as Australia ended Day 1 at 86-1 after 33 overs.
India made three changes for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide on December 6. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill returned to the side, while Ashwin replaced Washington Sundar, who had performed well in Perth.
Batting first, India were bowled out for 180 in 44.1 overs, with Mitchell Starc taking a career-best 6-48. In reply, the visitors managed only one wicket in 33 overs. Speaking at the press conference, Ten Doeschate explained the decision to include Ashwin. He commented:
“We felt that on this surface he will be more suited.”
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Ten Doeschate also supported Ashwin as the No. 8 batter, stating:
“When you get the confidence of Nitish [Kumar Reddy] batting at seven, it doesn’t really matter with Ash batting at eight, and that was the thinking. There is not much to choose between them, and we just thought that Ash would be slightly more effective on this wicket.”
Nitish Kumar Reddy led India’s scoring with 42 off 54 balls, while Ashwin chipped in with a quick 22 off 22. The pair added 32 runs for the seventh wicket before Ashwin fell lbw to Starc.
“His potential is immense”- Ryan ten Doeschate lauds Nitish Reddy.
On a tough day for India, young all-rounder Reddy impressed with his counter-attacking knock, which included three fours and three sixes, highlighted by a bold reverse scoop off Scott Boland. Ten Doeschate praised Reddy, acknowledging his raw talent while noting his immense potential.
“We’re so chuffed with him… I think getting us to 150 in that first game was amazing. Just the way he went about his work. He is obviously playing his first pink-ball game. There’s a little bit of work to do. He’s very raw… He’s done everything a young player could do in a very short space of time and we think he’s got a very high ceiling,” Ten Doeschate said.
Before his standout performance on Day 1 of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, Reddy had scored 41 and an unbeaten 38 on his debut in Perth.
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