After Australia bowled out India for 150 runs, the hosts were confident of taking a healthy lead. However, Jasprit Bumrah and his fellow quicks had different plans. Bumrah’s sensational bowling spell and a bit of help from Mohammed Siraj and debutant Harshit Rana reduced Australia to 7-67 at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored 41 runs for the visiting team, revealed what head coach Gautam Gambhir told him before the contest in Perth.

“I heard a lot about Perth. During our last practice session before the first Test, I had a conversation with Gautam sir. He told me to take bouncers on my shoulder,” Nitish Kumar Reddy said.

He continued to speak about Gambhir’s message.

“Just feel like you are taking a bullet for your nation, and that helped me during my batting in Perth. It boosted my confidence and I kept his words in the back of the mind,” he added.

“Everyone said that there would be bounce in the Perth wicket. I was ready to take bullets for India. That’s the best thing I head from our coach Gautam Gambhir.”