Tiger in the jungle: Nitish Reddy on 'inspirational' tattoo after Test debut

AUS vs IND: Nitish Kumar Reddy opened up on the tattoo he has. The all-rounder made his debut in the Perth Test at the Optus Stadium along with Harshit Rana and Nathan McSweeney.

In Short

• Nitish Reddy opened up on his tattoo during the Perth Test
• Reddy scored 41 runs off 59 balls in the first innings
• Reddy made his debut along with Harshit Rana and Nathan McSeeney

India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy opened up on the tattoo he has on his arm. The all-rounder made his national debut when India stepped out for the Perth Test against Australia on Friday, November 22. Reddy was one of the three debutants in the game, along with fast bowler Harshit Rana and Aussie opening batter Nathan McSweeney.

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Reddy, who broke into the Indian setup after impressing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, said that the tattoo he has symbolises a ‘warrior and tiger’.

“The tattoo shows the warrior and tiger. Whenever I see the tattoo, I just want to feel like you’re the warrior when you’re playing in the centre,” Reddy told 7Cricket in an interview.

“So when a tiger makes his territory in the jungle, so it doesn’t allow any other animal or any other thing to come in that. So that’s how I want to feel. Like when you’re in the centre, you need to be like you’re the king. So that’s how I want to be,” Reddy added.

Reddy played a critical role in the first innings of the Perth Test. After opting to bat first, India found themselves in deep trouble after being reduced to 73 for six in 31.4 overs. It was then that Reddy stepped up for the visiting team.

Reddy scored 41 runs off 59 balls with six fours and a six, also playing a couple of reverse sweeps off Nathan Lyon. Reddy was also involved in a partnership of 48 runs for the seventh wicket with Rishabh Pant, who made 37 off 38.

Reddy also bowled three overs, and although he could not take a wicket, he gave away only four runs at an economy rate of 1.33. India bowled Australia out for 104 in 51.2 overs and took a lead of 46 runs in their first innings.