Former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes that Nitish Kumar Reddy is not the ideal replacement for Hardik Pandya for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda, Srikkanth said that Hardik can fit into the team both as a batter and a bowler.
“I am not sure what Nitish Kumar Reddy has done. How is he looked at as an all-rounder? He won’t be given the ball at all as teams will smash him everywhere. I don’t understand the logic behind this. How’s he a replacement for Hardik Pandya? Hardik Pandya can play in the 11 only as a bowler or a batter and as a fielder too,” he said.
Nitish has played two ODIs and four T20Is for India, scoring 27 and 90 runs respectively. He has also taken three wickets in T20Is. Recently, India announced their ODI squad for the upcoming New Zealand series, and Nitish was included in the team.
Srikkanth also spoke about the limitations of Nitish’s bowling.
“Whereas can Nitish Kumar Reddy fit into the team as a pure bowler? Will you ever give him three or four overs on the trot? Even if he has to bowl just five or six overs, how will he do it? There’s no scope,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hardik played in the recent five-match home T20I series against South Africa and is currently in action in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy for Baroda. Against Vidarbha, he smashed a 68-ball century and eventually scored 133 off 92 balls, including eight fours and 11 sixes, striking at 144.56.
India’s squad for ODIs vs New Zealand: Shubman Gill (C), Kuldeep Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh.
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