“How’s he a replacement for Hardik Pandya?” - Kris Srikkanth slams selectors for including Nitish Kumar Reddy for NZ ODI series

Former Indian chief selector Kris Srikkanth has questioned the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, for including the fast-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 15-man squad for the forthcoming New Zealand ODI series, starting on Sunday, January 11 in Vadodara.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth has asserted that the New Zealand batters will smash him everywhere if the captain decides to give him the ball, adding that he isn’t a proper replacement for Hardik Pandya, who has been rested for the series.

“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 because 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 eleven as a bowler, a batter, and as a fielder too,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

“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.

Furthermore, the former Indian cricketer suggested the selection committee that the Indian T20I vice-captain Axar Patel could have been selected instead of Nitish Kumar Reddy for the three-match ODI series. 

“I don’t know how they keep pushing him as an all-rounder. I am not even sure his track record in domestic cricket is that good. Instead of Nitish Kumar Reddy, they could have picked Axar Patel. He’s also an all-rounder and is the vice-captain in T20Is as well. What mistake did Axar Patel make? He has been very good and consistent. Suddenly, you’ve left him out of the squad,” he stated.

India’s ODI squad for NZ series: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

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*Subject to fitness clearance.

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