In his first set of India training sessions in New Chandigarh last week, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s warm-up drills were conspicuously different from those of his teammates. Mohammed Siraj couldn’t help but chuckle as Nitish sent down the red SG ball rather unusually, from a two-step run-up – utilising only the final motions of his usual delivery – in full force. Bowling coach Morne Morkel also watched Nitish from a distance. Now down on one knee, he continued to hurl a yellow ball, heavier than the usual 5.5-ounce cricket ball. Two days later, the 23-year-old was left on the bench as India went in with the additional spinner, debutant Manav Suthar, for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. On Wednesday, the specific drills were back on display at the old PCA Stadium in Mohali as India limbered up for the three-match ODI series, starting Saturday in Dharamsala. Nitish’s modified routines stem from a chance encounter with renowned English fast-bowling coach Steffan Jones on Instagram this summer. Their one-week exchange in Bengaluru before IPL 2026 delivered pathbreaking results. …