Perth : All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has received his India ODI debut cap from former skipper Rohit Sharma ahead of the series AUS vs IND opener against Australia here at the Optus Stadium on Sunday.
AUS vs IND: Nitish Kumar Reddy earns ODI debut cap from Rohit Sharma in Perth
Interestingly, Reddy made his Test debut at the same venue in Perth last year when India toured Australia for the iconic Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Back then, he received his Test cap from India ace Virat Kohli.
Since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Nitish has played only four additional Test matches — two in the recent series against the West Indies and two earlier during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. However, his time in England was interrupted by a freak gym accident in Manchester, which resulted in a left knee injury.
AUS vs IND: Renshaw and Owen receive maiden ODI caps as series begins at Optus Stadium
Meanwhile, Matthew Renshaw and Mitch Owen received their debut caps in the Australian camp as both prepare to play their first one-day international for the reigning World Cup champions. Moreover, Renshaw made his Test debut at 20 and earned his ODI call-up after consistent performances for the Bulls and Brisbane Heat. Similarly, Owen debuted in T20Is in July in Jamaica and now aims to impress in the 50-over format.
Furthermore, Renshaw has already represented Australia in Tests, having first played for his national side at the age of 20. He has now broken into the ODI team, nine years since his red-ball debut, after putting together several strong performances for the Bulls in the One-Day Cup and Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.
In addition, Owen, who made his T20I debut in July in Jamaica, now aims to deliver strong performances in the 50-over format as well.
Before the toss, Shaun Marsh presented Renshaw his ODI cap, while Tim David handed over the cap to Owen, adding a moment of pride for both debutants.
Finally, India and Australia will face off in a five-match T20I series after the conclusion of the three ODIs, ensuring an exciting continuation of the AUS vs IND rivalry.
–IANS
