Is India missing a trick by not fully utilizing Nitish Kumar Reddy's all-round capabilities? That's the question being asked after the recent Test match, and it's sparking some serious debate among cricket fans and experts alike.
During India's second innings against the West Indies, after enforcing the follow-on, commentators and viewers were left scratching their heads: why wasn't Nitish Kumar Reddy given a chance to bowl? India had already bowled a staggering 118.5 overs, adding to the 80.5 overs bowled in the first innings, yet Reddy remained largely unused with the ball, mirroring his limited bowling role in the earlier Ahmedabad Test.
Skipper Shubman Gill addressed the situation, explaining his rationale behind Reddy's selection. He emphasized the importance of consistent player selection, both at home and on overseas tours. Gill stated, "He didn’t really get to bowl in this match. We don’t want players to only play matches overseas. That puts a lot of pressure on the players. We want to groom certain players that we think can help us win matches overseas because that’s been a challenge for us."
But here's where it gets controversial... Gill's explanation hasn't completely satisfied everyone. Aakash Chopra, a prominent voice in Indian cricket, didn't mince words. "NKR not bowling a single over in the 200+ overs India bowled in Delhi is baffling," he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
To add context, before the match, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had outlined the team's strategy. Back on October 8th, he'd mentioned the plan was to stick with their current team composition to allow Nitish to develop into a reliable seam-bowling all-rounder for the future. Doeschate had even said, "One of the objectives, one of the sort of medium-term objectives, is to develop a seam bowling all-rounder for India. It’s very important when we go away on tours that we have that position coming. We didn’t get a very good look at Nitish last week, so I think it’s actually a very good opportunity to give Nitish another go and not alter the balance of the team. We think he’s a fantastic seam bowling all-rounder."
And this is the part most people miss... The coaching staff clearly sees immense potential in Reddy as a seam-bowling all-rounder, crucial for overseas success. Their strategy seems to be long-term development, providing opportunities without disrupting the team's overall balance.
Despite this, the fact that Reddy wasn't given a bowling opportunity in the second Test raised eyebrows among many experts. Former India and Karnataka cricketer Dodda Ganesh also voiced his concerns. "How are you preparing Nitish Reddy for the all rounder role if you don’t give him bowling at all?," Ganesh questioned in a post on X.
So, is India taking the right approach with Nitish Kumar Reddy? Are they hindering his development by not giving him enough opportunities to bowl, or is this a calculated long-term strategy to mold him into the all-rounder they envision? Is it more important to win the current match, or to develop players for future success, even if it means some short-term compromises? What do you think? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
