India captain Shubman Gill surprised fans with a fun and wholesome moment on Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s — this time not with the bat, but with his Telugu-speaking skills. After young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy delivered a sensational spell, Gill was seen praising him in Telugu, delighting both teammates and fans.
Nitish turned out to be India's golden arm at Lord’s. Handed the ball right after the drinks break, he immediately made an impact. In just his first over, he dismissed both England openers — Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley — shaking up the top order. His precise line and sharp bounce caught even seasoned batters off-guard.
The heartwarming Telugu moment came during the 16th over when Nitish was bowling to Joe Root. Trying to unsettle the bowler, Root stepped out of his crease, but the ball kicked off the pitch unexpectedly, leaving him awkwardly placed. The Indian fielders erupted in excitement — with Gill leading the celebrations and throwing in a line in Telugu to appreciate Nitish’s fiery over.
Earlier, England had won the toss and opted to bat first. For the first hour, it looked like a tightly contested session. Although the Indian seamers kept Duckett and Crawley in check, the openers managed to hold their ground and rotate the strike.
But Gill’s move to bring in Nitish after the break proved to be a masterstroke. Nitish’s first delivery nearly beat Duckett. Though the England batter hit back with a boundary, he was caught soon after attempting a leg-side flick — with Rishabh Pant safely collecting the edge behind the stumps.
Nitish nearly removed Ollie Pope for a duck too, but the edge flew just past Gill in the slips. That momentary miss didn’t deter him. Just a few deliveries later, he bowled a beauty that kissed Crawley’s bat on the way to Pant — his second wicket in the same over.
With control, confidence, and character, Nitish Kumar Reddy's spell has not only earned him praise from his captain but may also have earned him a permanent place in the hearts of Indian cricket fans.
