Pathan backs Nitish Reddy as Hardik Pandya's backup in ODI series
Pathan backs Nitish Reddy as Hardik Pandya's backup in ODI series
Former India all-rounder suggests Nitish Kumar Reddy should have featured earlier and could serve as a backup for Hardik Pandya.
A former India all-rounder has urged India to consider Nitish Kumar Reddy as a backup to Hardik Pandya, saying the 23-year-old showed the kind of all-round potential India needs. In the third ODI against New Zealand in Indore, Reddy delivered a 53 off 57, a measured innings that featured two fours and two sixes, while also contributing with the ball by bowling at speeds touching 135 kmph. This combination of batting flair and pace is exactly the profile some believe can complement Pandya as a flexible all-round option.
Reddy's performance wasn't just about the runs; he added 88 runs in partnerships with Virat Kohli, demonstrating the ability to anchor an innings and accelerate when needed. Although India lost the match by 41 runs, Pathan argued that the youngster's use in the series should have begun from the first game, and that the team should persist with him even if he stumbles early. The wider takeaway is clear: Reddy can rotate the strike, play big shots, and bowl at decent speeds, which makes him a potential fit for Pandya's backup role.
Beyond this series, Reddy's broader record hints at his ceiling. He debuted in T20Is and Tests in 2024, and finished the year with a Boxing Day century at the MCG against Australia. In ODIs, he has played four matches, scoring 100 runs at an average of 33.33, including one fifty. In Tests, he has 396 runs in 10 matches at 26.40, with one hundred, and eight wickets at an economy rate of 4.25. If India can continue developing him, he could emerge as a valuable all-rounder for future campaigns, including World Cup preparations.
