India Might Drop Nitish Kumar Reddy for Third Test: Sanjay Manjrekar
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has praised young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. He did so for his strong performances in the first two Tests of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, he fears India may have to drop him for the third Test in Brisbane to fix the bowling balance.
Reddy made his Test debut in the series opener at the Optus Stadium. He has become a reliable batter, scoring 163 runs in four innings at an average of 54.33. Manjrekar fears Reddy’s poor bowling—only two wickets—could cost him his spot. This, despite Reddy’s strong batting.
Reddy’s Consistent Batting Displays
Nitish Kumar Reddy has shown remarkable consistency in his brief Test career. On debut, he scored 41 runs in India’s first innings at Perth before following up with an unbeaten 38 in the second. In the second Test at Adelaide Oval, Reddy scored 42 in each innings. He is now India’s second-highest run-scorer in the series, after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 185 runs.
Manjrekar lauded the 23-year-old’s technique and temperament.
“He has been magnificent with the bat and his batting even gets batter against a quality opposition. He hasn’t got many runs in first-class cricket, but you can see a rare batting talent there,” he said.
Concerns Over Team Balance
Despite Reddy’s good batting, Manjrekar stressed India’s need for a better bowling attack in Brisbane’s pace-friendly conditions.
“India will have to think about the balance of the team and also take a call on the bowling unit. Nitish is good with the bat but you can’t risk of playing him as a pure batter,” he added.
Reddy is seen as a batting all-rounder. But, he has not impacted with the ball in the series. His two wickets have come at a high cost. This raises doubts about his place in the XI. India may need more specialist bowlers to compete in this Test.
Tough Selection Call Ahead for India
The Indian team, led by captain Rohit Sharma, faces a tough choice before the third Test. Reddy’s batting boosts India’s middle order. But, he hasn’t taken any wickets. This is a concern against Australia’s strong batting lineup.
India might drop Reddy for an extra bowler. Brisbane’s conditions likely favor seamers, despite Reddy’s run-scoring heroics. This potential move highlights the challenge of keeping team balance. It also seeks to give young players like Reddy a chance to show their skills.