"We are thinking of fast-tracking him for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy" - Aakash Chopra on Nitish Kumar Reddy's underwhelming performances vs AUS A
Aakash Chopra has noted that Nitish Kumar Reddy is being considered for the seam-bowling all-rounder's position in India's playing XI for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, he pointed out that the Andhra Pradesh player dished out underwhelming performances in the two unofficial Tests between India A and Australia A.
India will square off against Australia in a five-match Test series, with the first game starting in Perth on November 22. Reddy is the only seam-bowling all-rounder in India's 18-member squad picked for the tour Down Under.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener observed that Reddy didn't live up to expectations in the two games against Australia A.
"Nitish Kumar Reddy needs to be spoken about because the performance has been very cold in the two matches (between India A and Australia A). In batting, he hasn't scored runs, and in bowling, he has picked up just one wicket," he said (5:05).
"We are thinking of fast-tracking him for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He is that kind of a player, medium pacer, batter, who provides us depth and balance, because we won't be able to play four pacers in Perth. We want to play four pace options but the fourth cannot be an out-and-out pacer," Chopra added.
Reddy aggregated 17 runs across his two innings and picked up a solitary wicket in the first unofficial Test between India A and Australia A. He scored 16 and 38 runs respectively in his two hits in the second unofficial Test but went wicketless in both innings.
"We have expectations from Nitish Kumar Reddy but how?" - Aakash Chopra
![Nitish Kumar Reddy impressed as an all-rounder in the T20I series against Bangladesh. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/18986-17312180954802-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra was unsure whether Nitish Kumar Reddy can perform the role Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya have played previously.
"Shardul used to be there and we had expectations from Hardik. Now we have expectations from Nitish Kumar Reddy but how? That is the big question. The recent performance, which has been seen now, is not very promising," he said (5:30).
The renowned commentator added that the 21-year-old's recent performances and limited first-class career do not justify the confidence shown in him.
"That is why I am saying that we are showing a lot of confidence in Nitish Kumar Reddy, but I really hope it works out, because firstly the first-class experience is limited and secondly, the returns in the two matches in Australia aren't looking very promising with the bat and also with the ball," Chopra observed.
Reddy has aggregated 779 runs at a below-par average of 21.05 in 39 first-class innings. However, he has picked up 56 wickets at a respectable average of 26.98 in 42 innings.