Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged the team management to give regular opportunities to Nitish Kumar Reddy amid the ongoing three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Reddy is part of the ODI squad but didn’t make the cut in India’s playing XI in the opening game at Baroda.
Pathan said India should look to prepare Reddy as an all-rounder in the absence of Hardik Pandya and give him time to flourish. Reddy didn’t bowl a lot in the Test series against the West Indies and bowled only 10 overs in the second Test against South Africa.
“Nitish Kumar Reddy should be given more opportunities, even if he fails. There are not many all-rounders who can bowl at 130 kmph and can bat in the middle order. Hardik Pandya became the player he is now because he was played regularly for the first 2-3 years. The selectors, the team management, and fans will have to be patient with Nitish Kumar Reddy as well, just like they were with Pandya in the past,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Pathan added that Reddy seems to have veered off the track after scoring a fine century at the MCG against Australia.
“If we don’t show patience, then we will never see the potential turn into performances. So far, the performances have not come from Nitish Kumar Reddy. After the Test Hundred in Melbourne, we have not seen anything special from him in Tests, When he has had opportunities in white-ball cricket, even there he has not done well. But there are no other players with such a skillset,” he added.
Pathan also questioned the selectors and the team’s think tank over lack of opportunities for Rishabh Pant. The wicket-keeper was ruled out of the ODI series against New Zealand due to side strain.
“Rishabh Pant has fallen behind other wicket-keepers like Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Jitesh Sharma, but he should get opportunities as well, right? KL Rahul has cemented his place as the ODI wicket-keeper, and is quite ahead, but if you don’t give Pant any chances, then how will he be able to prove?” Irfan Pathan said.
Pant recently led Delhi to the quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
