Nitish Reddy's Form Dips: Who Will Step Up for India in England?

The Rise and Fall of Nitish Kumar Reddy

India's quest for a dynamic all-rounder capable of fast bowling and explosive batting seemed to find a solution when Nitish Kumar Reddy scored an impressive century in Melbourne. The young talent from Hyderabad showcased his skills against renowned players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon. Additionally, he has the ability to bowl medium pace, which could be advantageous for the upcoming English conditions.

However, the situation has taken a downturn for the 21-year-old Reddy. After being a standout performer in the recent series against Australia, he now faces the possibility of being sidelined. Coaches, including Gautam Gambhir, are contemplating leaving him out of the lineup. Despite his evident talent, his recent performance has raised concerns, especially with the crucial India vs England series approaching.

India has historically favored seam-bowling all-rounders in English conditions, with players like Stuart Binny, Hardik Pandya, and Shardul Thakur making their mark under the leadership of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. Reddy appeared to be the next promising player after his stellar performance in Australia, boasting 61 wickets in 28 First-Class matches.

Unfortunately, his recent form has been disappointing. In the current IPL season, he has managed only 173 runs across nine innings, which is far from impressive. His performance has been lackluster, and he hasn't bowled a single over throughout the tournament. SRH's captain, Pat Cummins, was unimpressed enough to bench Reddy for a critical match against Delhi Capitals.

Moreover, during the Australia tour, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah hardly utilized him, as he bowled just 44 overs in five Tests, taking only five wickets. In contrast, Harshit Rana, who played only two matches, managed to bowl more overs than Reddy. With no bowling action in over three months, Reddy needs to improve significantly, but the outlook isn't promising.

The Dilemma for India's Selection Committee

This predicament leaves Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed captain, with a challenging decision. India is currently lacking in fast-bowling all-rounders. Shardul Thakur, who performed well in South Africa in 2023, has been excelling in the Ranji Trophy, taking 35 wickets and scoring 505 runs at an average of over 40 in nine matches.

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Thakur also has experience playing in England, having participated in four Tests, where he took 10 wickets and scored 173 runs, including three half-centuries, one of which was against Australia in the WTC final.

Now, the selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, must determine whether to continue supporting Reddy based on his potential or to opt for another player for the England series. For Gambhir, this situation mirrors his days with KKR, where he had to navigate numerous choices and strategize the best path forward.