Nitish Kumar Reddy snubbed as Michael Vaughan picks combined XI from Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Published - 06 Jan 2025, 03:24 PM | Updated - 06 Jan 2025, 11:35 PM
Former England captain Michael Vaughan picked his combined XI for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), which concluded in Sydney on Sunday, January 5. Michael Vaughan included five Indian players in his combined XI, but surprisingly, there was no spot for young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.
The 21-year-old made his Test debut on November 22 in Perth and played in all five matches of the series. Nitish Kumar scored 298 runs and took 5 wickets. His best performance came during the Boxing Day Test match at the MCG, where he scored 114 runs off 189 balls while batting at the No. 7 position.
Australia won the final Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy by six wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Pat Cummins-led team secured the series 3-1, their first series win over India in 10 years. India won the first Test in Perth by 295 runs, but they lost the three matches in the recent series.
Michael Vaughan Picks Combined Playing XI from Australia and India
Speaking on Fox Cricket, the 50-year-old picked Sam Konstas and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the opening pair. Konstas impressed on debut in the Boxing Day Test, scoring 60 in his first innings. Jaiswal was the highest run-scorer for India, amassing 391 runs at an average of 43.44, including two fifties and a century.
Vaughan placed KL Rahul, who scored 276 runs in the series, including two fifties, at No. 3. Australia's Steve Smith and Travis Head were picked for Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. Smith scored 314 runs, with two centuries, while Head was the leading run-getter with 448 runs, including one fifty and two centuries.
The former England cricketer chose Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper for his XI. Pant scored 225 runs during the series. Ravindra Jadeja was placed at No. 7 after scoring 135 runs and taking four wickets in three Tests.
Vaughan opted for four fast bowlers, including India's Jasprit Bumrah, who was named Player of the Series for his 32 wickets. Australia's Pat Cummins (25 wickets), Mitchell Starc (18 wickets), and Scott Boland (21 wickets) were also included in the lineup.
He's Been Consistent for India Throughout the Series - Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan said that he wants Sam Konstas and Yashasvi Jaiswal to be aggressive and take risks. Vaughan also stated that Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, and Scott Boland will form a formidable quartet.
“Sam Konstas was in, and he still is in because he’s just played a horrific stroke, but I’m keeping him in because I want the young kids to go out there and completely smash the ball to all parts, so (Yashasvi) Jaiswal is in with Konstas. KL Rahul is going in at number three," Vaughan said.
"I think he’s been consistent for India throughout the series. Steve Smith goes in at four, Travis Head at No. 5, and Rishabh (Pant) at No. 6. My spinning all-rounder is Jadeja, and just look at that quartet of bowlers you’ve got: Cummins, Starc, Bumrah, and Boland, and it doesn’t get much better than that."
Michael Vaughan's combined playing XI for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy:
Sam Konstas, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Scott Boland.
