Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has strongly backed Nitish Kumar Reddy, suggesting the young cricketer should have been part of India’s playing XI from the very start of the ODI series against New Zealand. Impressed by Reddy’s all-round showing in the third ODI at Indore, Pathan believes the 21-year-old has the potential to grow into a reliable backup for Hardik Pandya in white-ball cricket.
Reddy finally got his opportunity in the series decider and made an immediate impact, scoring a composed 53 off 57 deliveries. His knock, laced with two fours and two sixes, included a crucial 88-run partnership with Virat Kohli that briefly revived India’s chase of 338. However, despite his efforts, India fell short by 41 runs as New Zealand clinched a historic series win.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan praised Reddy’s temperament and skill set, questioning the team management’s decision to overlook him earlier in the series.
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“Nitish Kumar Reddy was a positive. He scored a fifty with the bat, and I felt he should have played from the first game,” Irfan Pathan said. He highlighted Reddy’s ability to rotate strike and clear the ropes with ease, whether through the pull shot or straight down the ground. Pathan also noted that Reddy’s bowling, which touched speeds of around 135 kmph, adds significant value in limited-overs cricket.
According to Pathan, that pace is more than adequate to mark Reddy as a genuine seam-bowling all-rounder. He urged the selectors and team management to show patience, even if the youngster has the occasional off day.
“Even if Reddy fails, India should persist with him. Over time, you’ll get a very good all-rounder,” Irfan Pathan added, underlining the importance of long-term planning.
Reddy’s rise has been steady. He featured in India’s T20I and Test squads in 2024 and capped the year with a memorable century in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG against Australia. In four ODIs, he has scored 100 runs at an average of 33.33, while his Test tally stands at 396 runs from 10 matches, alongside eight wickets.
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The third ODI also marked a landmark moment for New Zealand, who secured their first-ever ODI series win in India. Centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips powered the visitors to 337/8, making Kohli and Reddy’s resistance ultimately insufficient.
