AUS vs IND 2025: Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out of first three T20Is with quadriceps strain

India's young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out of the first three T20Is of the ongoing series against Australia due to a left quadriceps injury, aggravated by recent neck spasms. The injury, which he sustained during the second ODI in Adelaide, has delayed his recovery process, making him unavailable for the majority of the five-match series.

Reddy’s injury is a significant blow to India’s plans, especially in the absence of Hardik Pandya, who continues to recover from his own fitness concerns. The 21-year-old Andhra all-rounder has become a crucial component in India’s limited-overs setup, impressing with his ability to contribute both with the bat and ball.

During the ODI leg of the tour, Reddy managed decent returns before the unfortunate setback in Adelaide. While his quadriceps strain initially seemed manageable, the development of neck spasms has complicated his rehabilitation, affecting his movement and preventing full participation in team activities.

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Hopefully, we'll have a good game: Suryakumar Yadav

The series between India and Australia kicked off at Manuka Oval, Canberra, recording the continuation of India’s long tour Down Under. The home team captain, Mitchell Marsh, won the toss and opted to bowl first, while India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, revealed that his team had planned to bat first regardless of the toss outcome, believing the pitch would slow down in the second innings.

During the toss, Suryakumar mentioned that the team had arrived in Canberra three to four days earlier to acclimatize to the conditions. However, he also confirmed that Nitish, along with Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, and Arshdeep Singh, would miss out on the playing XI.

"We were looking to bat first. I mean, it looks like a good wicket. And I heard from our analysts that there have not been a lot of games played here. Might get slower in the second innings. So, yeah, we wanted to bat first. (On the prep for the series) Yeah, I mean, we were here three, four days before this game. Though it was cold yesterday and today. But today, it looks good. Hopefully, we'll have a good game. (On India's good run in T20 cricket) Yeah, I mean, they know what's to be done when they go inside. They know their roles really well. Have good responsibility on their shoulders. And they just enjoy the game. (On picking the XI) Big headache, yeah. It's a good headache. It's not a bad headache. It's a good headache to have. But yeah, good to have so many options. The guys who are missing out are Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep and Nitish," Surya said at the toss.