IND vs WI 2025: "Nitish Reddy not bowling in second Test puts question mark on his selection" - Ex-India opener reflects on all-rounder's usage vs WI

Aakash Chopra failed to find the logic behind not using Nitish Kumar Reddy with the ball during the second Test between India and the West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

While the Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder did not get to bat in the first Test, he wasn't used with the ball in the second. In the series, he bowled just four overs and went wicketless. Chopra feels that by not using Reddy's bowling abilities against the Caribbean side, India have ensured that a cloud of uncertainty remains over his spot in the playing XI during the Test series against South Africa in November.

"I have no idea. He did not bat in the previous game, he did not bowl in this game. Initially, you understood that, but there came a point where the captain tried everyone, but nothing happened. So why not Nitish Reddy?" Aakash Chopra said on ESPNcricinfo when asked about India's way of utilising Reddy's all-round skills against the West Indies.

"He is a batter who can bowl and is playing this match as an all-rounder. Him not bowling is baffling to me. That also puts a question mark on the selection. One Test match he gets slotted at 8. Then when he gets to bat at No.5 he does not bowl. Then the question ahead of the South Africa series becomes, what we do with that No.6 slot," he added.

 It does not make sense that Nitish did not bowl a single ball in the second Test: Aakash Chopra

Reddy has played nine Test matches so far and picked up eight wickets at an average of 39.63. He bowled well in Australia and England. While his bowling is still a work in progress, getting some overs under his belt in testing home conditions would have given him a chance to hone his craft.

"In bowling-friendly conditions where wickets are not falling, the least you can do is give him a bowl. I don't have an answer to the question of whether they are confused. Is it down to the coach or the captain, or maybe both? But logically, it does not make sense that Nitish did not bowl a single ball in the second Test," Chopra concluded.

India won the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, October 14. They reached the 121-run target in the morning session on Day 5, as KL Rahul remained unbeaten on a 108-ball 58. The Asian giants whitewashed the West Indies 2-0. Kuldeep Yadav was named Player of the Match after picking up eight wickets across the two innings. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja was awarded Player of the Series after scoring 104 runs and accounting for eight wickets.