Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned whether India can play an additional specialist pacer in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 fourth Test. He added that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj might be slightly weary due to their efforts in the first three Tests as well. He also questioned whether Nitish Kumar Reddy should make way for a fourth specialist seamer as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “Till now, India have played three fast bowlers plus Nitish Kumar Reddy, plus a spinner who can bat. However, you played five proper bowlers the last time you played in Melbourne. There were three fast bowlers and two proper spinners, (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja played, and India got out for 36 in the previous match.”

“Can five proper bowlers be played here? You have to keep in mind that two of your three fast bowlers have played three Test matches. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have done very well but Siraj had a slight side strain in the last match. Akash Deep bowled very well in the last match,” Chopra further added. “However, if two of your three fast bowlers have played three Test matches, there might be a little bit of weariness in the fourth match. So will you keep that in mind as this is the fourth Test match of the series on Australian pitches? They take a toll. If you see from that viewpoint, can a fourth fast bowler be played in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy?”

In the same video, Aakash Chopra also added that Nitish Kumar Reddy did well with the bat but he hasn’t been too effective with the ball. He again added that he won’t be surprised if the team management take the tough call of leaving out Reddy.

“The truth is that Nitish Kumar Reddy is doing very well. After KL Rahul, he is the one who has batted well, and the others have not played that well consistently. However, you are not keeping him in the team for batting. You are keeping him to contribute with the ball as well, which he does, but he is like half a bowler. So this is a huge question in front of the Indian team management as to what they should do. Can you go with four pure fast bowlers with Jadeja as your lone spinner? It’s a big, big question. I won’t be surprised if it happens although dropping Nitish Kumar Reddy will take some doing,” Aakash Chopra concluded.