IND vs AFG 2nd T20I: Nitish Kumar Reddy redeemed himself in style as he delivered a match-winning spell during the second T20I between India and Afghanistan
in New Delhi.
After an expensive outing in the series opener, the young all-rounder responded with a career-best performance, producing three crucial breakthroughs to dismantle Afghanistan's batting order and help India secure a comfortable position in the contest.
IND vs AFG 2nd T20I: Nitish Kumar Reddy Redeems Himself
Afghanistan appeared to have recovered well from an early setback, reaching 53/1 after the Powerplay. With Ibrahim Zadran and his partner building a threatening partnership, India needed a bowler capable of breaking the momentum. Reddy answered the call immediately.
Introduced into the attack in the seventh over, Reddy struck with his very first delivery, dismissing Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran for 37 off 33 balls. The breakthrough ended a 51-run partnership and shifted the pressure back onto the Afghan batters.
Reddy returned for his second over in the ninth and once again made an instant impact. His first delivery accounted for Gulbadin Naib, who departed for 10. The dismissal deepened Afghanistan's collapse and left them struggling at 67/4. Reddy's opening two-over burst yielded impressive figures of 2/13, demonstrating his ability to deliver wickets without compromising on economy.
However, Afghanistan refused to surrender completely. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan launched a late counter-attack, adding 48 runs at a rapid pace to revive their team's hopes of posting a competitive total. With the innings approaching its conclusion, India entrusted Reddy with the final over.
The all-rounder repaid that faith yet again. His first ball of the 20th over dismissed Rashid Khan, who had scored 28 off 16 deliveries. Axar Patel completed a spectacular acrobatic catch near the boundary ropes, ending Afghanistan's late surge and giving India a decisive advantage.
Reddy eventually finished with career-best T20I figures of 3/24, emerging as India's standout bowler. His performance was particularly significant given that he had conceded 30 runs in the series opener. The turnaround underlined his composure and ability to respond when placed under pressure.
His timely wickets restricted Afghanistan to 159/8, leaving India with a manageable target. More importantly, Reddy's spell demonstrated the value of a bowler who can exploit crucial moments, disrupt partnerships and deliver under pressure. In Delhi, the young all-rounder transformed a difficult start to the series into a memorable individual comeback.
