Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar expressed doubts about Nitish Kumar Reddy‘s inclusion in India’s T20I or ODI squads for the upcoming series against England. He suggested that the seam-bowling all-rounder might be better suited for Test cricket, particularly in overseas conditions.
India recently faced a 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Despite the team’s struggles, Reddy emerged as a standout performer, amassing 298 runs at an average of 37.25 across nine innings and claiming five wickets at an average of 38.00.
During a segment on the Star Sports show Game Plan, Bangar was asked about Reddy’s potential role as an all-rounder in the T20I series against England. He highlighted Reddy’s capabilities but stopped short of endorsing his immediate inclusion in the white-ball squads.
“It’s still early in his career,” he remarked. “If you reflect on the last 10-12 years, who was the standout performer in that position? Irfan Pathan comes to mind. He was the guy who excelled with the new ball or as a first-change bowler, and he also contributed with the bat whenever needed.”
“Irfan emerged from the Under-19 system, but Nitish isn’t someone who came through that pathway. He’s already past that phase. Personally, I view him as a crucial player for Test matches abroad. I don’t see him fitting into the 50-over or T20 formats, nor even in home Tests,” Bangar explained further.
Reddy featured in all three T20I matches against Bangladesh in October 2024, showcasing promising performances. However, he was not selected for the subsequent T20I series against South Africa, as he was prioritized for India’s Test squad in the BGT series against Australia.
“However, he brings an ideal balance to the team for overseas Test matches, and that’s where his true value lies,” he added.
Bangar also emphasized the importance of the 21-year-old spending time at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) during his off-periods from international or domestic cricket, which could help him further hone his skills.
“It’s not just about being part of the Indian team’s travel, but whenever he’s not committed to national or state responsibilities, the National Cricket Academy plays a key role in preparing him to handle the workload of bowling 10 or 15 overs with the necessary effectiveness. That’s a big opportunity for him.”
In T20I cricket, Nitish Reddy has demonstrated his potential, scoring 90 runs at an impressive strike rate of 180.00 in three innings. He has also taken three wickets at an economy rate of 7.88, showcasing his ability to make an impact in both facets of the game. This performance suggests that he could be a suitable backup or complement to Hardik Pandya in India’s white-ball setup.