Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Nitish Kumar Reddy for bowling a stunning spell in the second T20I against Afghanistan. He also added that the seam-bowling all-rounder could be a future replacement for Hardik Pandya. Reddy registered figures of 3/24 in three overs as India restricted Afghanistan to 159/8 in Delhi on Tuesday, September 15. Team India then chased the target with seven wickets and 31 balls to spare, sealing the series 2-0 ahead of the final game at the same venue on Thursday.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “What was India’s problem? India’s problem was what the fifth bowler would do, how he would bowl, and whether he would be able to pick up wickets. I am quite happy with the way things went. Jasprit Bumrah conceded 25 runs in four overs and picked up a wicket. He is gold. He bowls the same way whenever you bowl him. Arshdeep Singh has had an excellent series – 35 runs in four overs and two wickets.”
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“Axar Patel – 28 runs in four overs. Once again, he bowled like a bank. Ravi Bishnoi conceded 32 runs and picked up a wicket. Nitish Kumar Reddy – 24 runs in three overs and three wickets. You even got him to bowl the 20th over. Nitish Kumar Reddy has raised your expectations a little. For the question of who after Hardik Pandya, he is putting his hat into the ring,” he further added.
While talking about Afghanistan’s bowling in the same video, Aakash Chopra also questioned Ibrahim Zadran for not utilizing Rashid Khan effectively.
“What is Ibrahim Zadran doing? Afghanistan took three wickets in total, and Rashid Khan took all three wickets. India needed four runs for a win when he came to bowl his fourth over. Why did you call him at all for his fourth over?” he said. “None of your bowlers were successful. Whoever was coming was getting hit. Everybody was batting with a lot of comfort, but one guy had taken three wickets. Give him the fourth over at least. The fourth over was given when the match was over. I felt the captaincy was 50-50,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
