Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy's inclusion in the Indian playing XI for the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand has drawn mixed reactions. Amid the chatter, veteran batter Hanuma Vihari has defended the youngster, urging patience. Reddy was slotted into the team following an injury to Washington Sundar in the first ODI that ruled the spin-bowling all-rounder out for the remainder of the series.
Notably, Indian management brought in Ayush Badoni as a replacement for Washington Sundar. But, for the second ODI in Rajkot, the selectors opted for Reddy over Ayush Badoni. Reddy, on the other hand, in the second ODI, managed only 20 runs from 21 deliveries, failing to play a meaningful knock. With the ball, he was used sparingly, bowling just two overs and failing to pick up a wicket.
"Can you tell me anyone else in the country who is at the level of Nitish who can bat and bowl seam? And he's 22. You call a 22-year-old a 'bits and pieces' cricketer? Write him off just like that?" Vihari wrote in a post on X.
Meanwhile, addressing the press after the match, Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate felt that Reddy 'ends up not doing a heck of a lot in the games'.
"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 said.
"For someone who's making his way – particularly with the bat tonight – that was the perfect chance where you're walking into that situation and you've got a chance to spend 15 overs at the wicket. You really have to take those chances to push your case to be selected," he said.