Nitish Kumar Reddy's Cricket Career Hits a Roadblock
The Indian cricket team management views Nitish Kumar Reddy as a crucial project. They see him as a seam-bowling all-rounder who could strengthen the squad. However, this project struggles to get off the ground. Reddy faces significant challenges in fitting into the team's plans.
Limited Opportunities and Uninspiring Numbers
Recent matches highlight Reddy's predicament. During India's loss to New Zealand in Rajkot, he bowled only two overs. He batted at number seven in the order. Captain Shubman Gill showed clear reluctance to give him a larger role. This pattern repeats across formats.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed the issue directly. He spoke to reporters after the Rajkot game. "With Nitish, we keep talking about developing him and getting him game time. And then when you do get him game time, he often ends up not doing a heck of a lot in the games," ten Doeschate stated.
The coach emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities. "For someone who's making their way in the game — particularly with the bat tonight — it was that perfect chance where you walk in that situation and you've got a chance to spend 15 overs at the crease. You really have to take those chances to push your case to be selected," he added.
A Broader Pattern of Underutilization
Shubman Gill is not the only captain hesitant to use Reddy. Suryakumar Yadav also struggled to give him sufficient game time in T20 internationals. Even when Reddy traveled with the team, he remained on the sidelines.
Two months ago, Rishabh Pant served as stand-in captain during a Test match in Guwahati. Pant too showed limited confidence in Reddy's bowling abilities. Meanwhile, Reddy's batting form has declined noticeably. His century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 2024 now seems a distant memory.
The Hardik Pandya Backup Plan
Team selectors and management have a specific vision for Reddy. They want to develop him as a backup for Hardik Pandya. This strategy aligns with preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Pandya's fitness issues often prevent him from bowling full spells. The team needs a reliable fourth seamer for challenging conditions. Reddy theoretically fits this requirement. However, his current trajectory raises doubts.
Ryan ten Doeschate discussed World Cup preparations. "I can't see anything that we've had to skirt around in terms of prepping for the World Cup. There's a lot at stake individually for these players in these series. The World Cup is still a long way away, but you have to build from series to series and get good habits," he explained.
Batting Order Experiments and KL Rahul's Form
Indian team management experimented with all-rounders over the past year. They tried pushing them up the batting order ahead of KL Rahul. These moves did not fail completely, but they also did not produce dramatic results.
Now, KL Rahul demonstrates strong form. He shows ability to control the middle overs in ODI innings. This development allows the team to reconsider all-rounder roles. They might limit these players to positions starting from number six in the batting order.
Ten Doeschate elaborated on this strategy. "One of our strategies in the last 18 months has been to prolong the batting order. We do like to use the all-rounder either high up the order or at No. 5 like we've done with Washy in the past. But that certainly is an avenue to explore with KL finding the form that he's in now. He can be a regular No. 5 and play allrounders at six, seven, eight — with hopefully Harshit being that No. 8," he said.
Time Running Out for Reddy
Head coach Gautam Gambhir and his team invested significant resources in Nitish Kumar Reddy. They see potential in his all-round abilities. However, patience wears thin as performances remain below expectations.
Reddy now faces immense pressure. He must deliver concrete returns quickly. Otherwise, his time in the national team setup could end very soon. The management continues to seek that perfect puzzle piece, but Reddy struggles to fit into the designated slot.
