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Nitish Reddy cautioned by India coach after failed return, Rohit urged to play more

Aakash Saini

Nitish Kumar Reddy [Source: AFP]Nitish Kumar Reddy [Source: AFP]

Nitish Kumar Reddy made his return to ODI cricket in India’s second match of the home series against New Zealand on Wednesday, January 14. Replacing injured Washington Sundar in the playing XI, the young all-rounder failed to go big with either bat or ball, as Team India went down by seven wickets in Rajkot to have the three-match ODI series levelled at 1-1.

Arriving to the crease in the slog overs following the dismissal of hard-hitting Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy struggled in his sluggish 21-ball knock of 20 runs before he was dismissed by New Zealand’s Zak Foulkes. Even with the ball, the speedster went wicketless in his two overs, conceding 13 runs in the process.

Nitish Reddy has not done enough with his opportunities, says assistant coach

While speaking with the reporters after the second India vs New Zealand ODI in Rajkot, Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate criticised Nitish Kumar Reddy for not making the most of his opportunities in the playing XI. Throwing an off-hand warning, Doeschate also said that players need to push themselves to justify their selection.

The Indian assistant coach said, “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. For someone who's making their way, particularly with the bat tonight (Wednesday), it was that perfect chance where you're walking in 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.”

Ryan ten Doeschate also admitted that the Indian team management intended to include a third spinner in the playing XI in the form of Washington Sundar’s replacement Ayush Badoni, before realising a hard-hitting fast-bowling all-rounder like Nitish Kumar Reddy would be better suited for the surface at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.

Ryan ten Doeschate said, “If you look at the combinations we have played in the past, we do like the extra spinner. To bring Ayush Badoni into the squad at the very last minute with Washy (Washington Sundar) going down in the (last) game, we thought Nitish should be better suited on this track.”

Ryan ten Doeschate believes Rohit Sharma “short on cricket”

In a season where Rohit Sharma made his return to domestic cricket and has not missed a single ODI match for Team India, Ryan ten Doeschate claimed that he believes the legendary Indian opener is not playing enough between series.

He said, “Rohit Sharma, I thought tonight particularly, both innings was a real new-ball wicket. It didn't look easy to bat. Over a short period of time if you take the first ODI, he's (Rohit) not been as fluent as he has been and that's going to be a challenge for him, not playing cricket between series.”

With series locked at 1-1, both Rohit Sharma and possibly Nitish Kumar Reddy will now turn up for Team India in the third ODI match on Sunday, January 18. The impending decider will be hosted by the Holkar Stadium in Indore.