Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has identified Nitish Kumar Reddy as one of the biggest positives from India’s convincing seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the opening ODI of the three-match series. The cricket legend praised the young all-rounder’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball, calling him a player capable of adding valuable balance to the Indian side.

In the rain-curtailed contest at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, reduced to 25 overs per side, Reddy delivered an impressive spell of 2/31 from four overs. His standout moment came when he produced a pinpoint yorker to dismiss Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who had earlier scored a brilliant century.

The delivery crashed into the middle stump and immediately caught the attention of experts and fans alike. Nitish Reddy later added the wicket of veteran all-rounder Mohammed Nabi, further underlining his impact with the ball. Speaking on JioStar, Gavaskar highlighted the importance of bowlers who can consistently execute yorkers under pressure.

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“Nitish Kumar Reddy picked up a huge wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz with a perfect yorker. If you can nail yorkers like that, you become a valuable asset. Every time he tried something different, it went for runs, but whenever he returned to the yorker, it worked,” Sunil Gavaskar said.

With Hardik Pandya currently unavailable due to a back spasm, Reddy has been handed a bigger opportunity to establish himself in India’s white-ball setup. The youngster has worked extensively on his bowling during the off-season, making noticeable improvements in pace and rhythm.

His strong IPL 2026 campaign for Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he scored 302 runs and claimed eight wickets, further strengthened his credentials as a genuine all-rounder. Sunil Gavaskar believes Reddy’s versatility gives India greater flexibility in team selection.

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“India now have a player who can comfortably fill the role of a fifth or sixth bowler. Depending on conditions, he can be picked as a batter or a bowler and still contribute significantly with the other skill. That is a huge advantage for any team,” he added.

India will now look to seal the series when they face Afghanistan in the second ODI in Lucknow on June 17, carrying a 1-0 lead into the contest.