 "Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out for the first three T20Is against Australia. Image: BCCI")
Nitish Kumar Reddy was missing from India’s playing XI for the first T20I against Australia at Manuka Oval, Canberra , on Wednesday as the all-rounder continues to recover from an injury. Nitish wasn’t a part of the third India-Australia ODI over the last weekend, but there were hopes that he might manage to make a comeback in the first T20I.
But BCCI announced on Wednesday, at around the toss, that Nitish Reddy would not be available for selection in the first three T20Is of the five-match series between India and Australia.
Why does Nitish Reddy sit out again?
As per the medical update provided by the BCCI, Nitish has complained of “neck spasms,” which have compromised his recovery and mobility as he recovers from a left quadriceps injury suffered during the second ODI. As a result, Nitish has been ruled out of the first three T20Is.
“Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out for the first three T20Is. The all-rounder who was recovering from his left quadriceps injury sustained during the second ODI in Adelaide, complained of neck spasms, which has impacted his recovery and mobility. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress,” BCCI said on X.
It’s minor, but a setback for Nitish, who has now become a regular in all three formats for India. The ODI series against Australia was his first 50-over assignment for India, and the Andhra Pradesh all-rounder is expected to play a bigger role for India at the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2027 ODI World Cup.
Nitish had been suffering a few injuries lately and BCCI would need to be careful about how they handle him going forward.
Meanwhile, Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first in the T20I against India at Canberra. Besides Nitish, Arshdeep Singh is also missing from the playing XI, but Team India management has not said anything about the pacer suffering from an injury.