 "India's Nitish Kumar Reddy plays a shot during the second One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Rajkot, India, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. AP")
India assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate has hinted that the team management is not fully convinced with the performances of Nitish Kumar Reddy as debate rages over his utility as an all-rounder in the team.
India lost to New Zealand in the second ODI of the three-match series in Rajkot. The 22-year-old all-rounder who had replaced the injured Washington Sundar in the match failed to impress. He could only score 20 off 21 deliveries coming out to bat at number seven when India needed quick runs and then bowled only two overs for 13 runs without any wicket.
Ten Doeschate says Reddy needs to grab his chances
Reddy came to bat in the 39th over but could not score freely in his innings. India assistant coach thought it was a good chance for the right-hander to show his utility with the bat as he criticised the youngster of not doing enough in the chances he is getting.
“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,” the former Dutch all-rounder said after the second ODI.
“For someone who’s making their way, particularly with the bat tonight, 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,” he added.
Reddy is being seen as a back-up to Hardik Pandya who has been rested currently with an eye on next month’s T20 World Cup. However, in the limited chances that the youngster has been provided with, he has not done spectacularly well.
Despite his century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground late in 2024, he only averages 26.4 after 16 innings in Test cricket. He has not got many chances in white ball cricket where he has only represented India in four T20Is and three ODIs.