Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra compared the skillset of the young allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy with Hardik Pandya, a proven allrounder at the international level. Chopra also lauded the Indian team management for playing both the all-rounders together in the same Playing XI.
Nitish Kumar Reddy has played in both the T20Is of the three-match series against Bangladesh so far. He scored an unbeaten 16 in the first game, which was also his international debut, but showed a glimpse of his talent in the second game.
Reddy scored a magnificent 74 off 34 balls in the second T20I at Delhi which included 4 fours and 7 sixes. He was impressive with the ball too as he finished with 2-23 in 4 overs.
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Aakash Chopra lauds team management for playing both allrounders together
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra lauded the team management’s decision to play both the all-rounders together. He also praised the management for fast-tracking Nitish despite the youngster having played a limited no. of games at the domestic level.
“Nitish Kumar Reddy and Hardik Pandya – this is a fantastic thing the Indian team are trying to do at the moment. Shivam Dube used to be a part of this team but he isn’t there now,” Chopra said.
“Tilak Varma has come in his place. Nitish Reddy has been fast-tracked with the thinking that he should be played as much as possible,” he added.
Nitish Kumar Reddy impressed in the IPL 2024 season with 303 runs in 15 matches at an average of 33.67 and a strike rate of 142.92. He also picked up three wickets with his pace bowling.
Aakash Chopra compares Nitish Kumar Reddy with Hardik Pandya
However, the former India opener further admitted that Nitish Kumar Reddy is still unprepared when it comes to his bowling. But he claimed that the youngster has a lot of potential as a batter and can play cracking shots in limited-overs cricket.
“He has been made to bat at No. 4 and given full overs. They are trying to prepare him because the potential is evident. I would still say he is slightly underprepared in bowling because if you see his and Hardik’s bowling, Hardik is a much-refined version, bowls with great experience, and picks up wickets,” Chopra said.
“However, Nitish Kumar Reddy has the ability with the bat. There is no doubt about that as he hits sixes while standing in his position. He opens up his front leg, clears the line, and hits. We saw him playing differently in the last match,” the cricketer-turned-commentator noted.
Hardik Pandya in the T20I series vs Bangladesh
Hardik Pandya is a seasoned allrounder for India in the white-ball formats. He has looked in great batting form this series so far. In the first match, he smashed 39 off 16 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes and finished off the game for India.
In the second T20I at Delhi, Pandya provided the finishing touch again and scored 32 off 19 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. Alongside scoring the runs, the allrounder took a brilliant catch to dismiss Rishad Hossain.
