Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar doesn’t see Nitish Kumar Reddy playing for India in T20I or ODIs for the upcoming series against
England. He also opined that the seam-bowling all-rounder was best suited to playing Tests in overseas conditions as well. However, Team India faced a 1-3 defeat against Australia in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 as well.

During a discussion on the Star Sports show ‘Game Plan,’ Bangar said, “It’s still early days for me. Here is a chance for you, if you cast your mind back over the last 10-12 years, who was the guy who did that job really well? Irfan Pathan is the one who comes to mind, who bowled with the new ball or one change, and who also gave you runs whenever required.”

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“Irfan came out of the under-19 system. Nitish is not somebody who has come out of the under-19 system. He is past that stage. For me, he is an extremely critical member for the overseas Test matches. I don’t think he will find a place either in the 50-over or the T20 format or, for that matter, even in home Test matches,” Bangar further added.

In the same discussion, Sanjay Bangar also stated that Nitish Kumar Reddy can provide the required balance to India in overseas Tests.

“However, here is a player who can give you ideal balance for your overseas Test matches and that’s where the real value is. That’s where not necessarily traveling with the Indian team, but whenever he is off national duty and off his state duty, the National Cricket Academy has got a massive role to play in terms of getting him up to that workload to bowl 10 or 15 overs really with penetration, and that’s an opportunity which is very, very enticing,” Sanjay Bangar concluded.