IND vs NZ 2026: 'Nitish Kumar Reddy should be given more opportunities, even if he fails' - T20 World Cup winner's blunt statement ahead of 1st ODI

Irfan Pathan believes that Hardik Pandya became the cricketer he is because he got regular opportunities to play for India. The former wants Nitish Kumar Reddy to get a long rope in India's playing XI, so that he can hone his skills and become an integral part of the setup.

T20 World Cup winner, Pathan, urged the team management not to drop Reddy if he fails, especially because there's a lack of seam-bowling all-rounders in the country. While Pathan noted that the Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder's performances haven't been too phenomenal at the international circuit barring the Test century in Australia, he feels that more opportunities will help him do justice to his talent.

"Nitish Kumar Reddy should be given more opportunities, even if he fails. There are not many all-rounders who can bowl at 130 kmph and can bat in the middle order. Hardik Pandya became the player he is now because he was played regularly for the first 2-3 years. The selectors, the team management, and fans will have to be patient with Nitish Kumar Reddy as well, just like they were with Pandya in the past," Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

"If we don't show patience, then we will never see the potential turn into performances. So far, the performances have not come from Nitish Kumar Reddy. After the Test Hundred in Melbourne, we have not seen anything special from him in Tests, When he has had opportunities in white-ball cricket, even there he has not done well. But there are no other players with such a skillset," he added.

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Reddy has played 10 Tests, two ODIs, and four T20Is so far. The 22-year-old is averaging 26.4, 27, and 45 with the bat across the three formats, respectively. Meanwhile, with the ball, he has five Test wickets at 45.75 and three T20I scalps at 23.67. Reddy has been picked in India's squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, beginning on Sunday, January 11, in Vadodara. With Pandya being rested for the assignment, the Visakhapatnam-born might as well get some game time.