Irfan Pathan Advocates for Nitish Reddy's Early Inclusion in ODI Series
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed strong support for young cricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy. Pathan believes Reddy should have featured in the ODI series against New Zealand from the very first match. He sees the promising all-rounder as a potential backup for the experienced Hardik Pandya.
Reddy's Performance in the Third ODI
Pathan highlighted Reddy's performance during the third and final ODI in Indore. The youngster scored a brisk half-century, making 53 runs off just 57 deliveries. His innings included two boundaries and two sixes. Reddy also formed a crucial partnership of 88 runs with the legendary Virat Kohli during the chase.
Unfortunately, India fell short by 41 runs despite these efforts. New Zealand secured their first-ever ODI series victory on Indian soil with this win.
Pathan's Detailed Analysis on YouTube
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Irfan Pathan elaborated on his views. He called Nitish Kumar Reddy a positive takeaway from the series. Pathan noted that Reddy replaced Washington Sundar in the Rajkot match. He felt the management missed a trick by not playing Reddy from the beginning.
"The way he batted, Reddy showed he had the potential to play big shots and can rotate strike," Pathan stated. He praised Reddy's ability to build partnerships in both games he played. The former cricketer specifically mentioned Reddy's ease in playing pull shots and driving straight down the ground.
Bowling Prowess and Speed
Pathan also focused on Reddy's bowling capabilities. He observed that the young all-rounder touched speeds of 135 kilometers per hour during his spell. Pathan described this as a decent pace for an all-rounder. He emphasized that this skill set demonstrates Reddy's potential to serve as a reliable backup for Hardik Pandya in the national team.
"Even if Reddy fails, the management should persist with him, and India will eventually get a good all-rounder," Pathan asserted. He urged the selectors and team management to show patience and continue investing in Reddy's development.
Nitish Reddy's Career Statistics
Nitish Kumar Reddy made his international debut for India in 2024, playing both T20Is and Test matches. He ended the year on a high note, scoring a century in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In his brief ODI career so far, Reddy has played four matches. He has scored 100 runs at an average of 33.33, including one half-century. In Test cricket, he has accumulated 396 runs across 10 matches, averaging 26.40 with one century to his name.
With the ball, Reddy has taken eight wickets in international cricket. He maintains an economy rate of 4.25 runs per over, showing decent control for a developing all-rounder.
Match Summary: New Zealand's Historic Victory
The third ODI saw New Zealand post a formidable total of 337 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Daryl Mitchell played a magnificent unbeaten knock of 137 runs. He received strong support from Glenn Phillips, who scored 106 runs. For India, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh claimed three wickets each.
In response, India fought hard but ultimately fell short. Virat Kohli scored a brilliant century, continuing his rich vein of form. He shared a 99-run partnership with Harshit Rana, who scored his maiden ODI fifty. However, the target proved too steep, and New Zealand emerged victorious by 41 runs.
This series win marks a significant achievement for New Zealand cricket. It represents their first-ever ODI series triumph on Indian soil, highlighting their growing prowess in subcontinental conditions.
