Former cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed his doubts about Nitish Kumar Reddy’s suitability as a long-term replacement for Hardik Pandya in the Indian cricket team. Reddy was included in the ODI and T20I squads for the Australia tour due to Pandya’s ongoing recovery from an injury sustained during the Asia Cup 2025.
Despite being part of the squad, the 22-year-old Reddy batted at No.8 in the first ODI and bowled only 2.1 overs. In the second ODI, he maintained the same batting position and bowled just three overs before being sidelined for the third ODI. Additionally, he missed the first three matches of the T20I series due to neck spasms.
During discussions on his YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted Reddy’s limited opportunities, especially evident during the West Indies Test series. Chopra emphasized that Reddy faced setbacks, including a quadriceps injury and neck spasms, leading to his absence from key matches and lack of consistent performance.
Chopra raised concerns about India’s preparedness for the future in light of Pandya’s fitness concerns. However, he questioned Reddy’s potential as a successor to Pandya, citing Reddy’s own injury troubles and insufficient playing time. Chopra concluded that the current situation is not conducive for Reddy to step into Pandya’s shoes effectively.
The India-Australia series will continue with the second T20I scheduled for October 31.