Nitish Kumar Reddy eyes World Cup berth as Hardik Pandya's place uncertain

With the ODI World Cup approaching, Hardik Pandya's place in India's playing XI has become increasingly uncertain due to his recurring injuries and workload management issues. Pandya hasn't featured in the last 15 ODIs since appearing in the Champions Trophy final in March 2025. This uncertainty has created an opportunity for Nitish Kumar Reddy to make a strong case for his long-term inclusion in the side.

Reddy was recently withdrawn from the Japan-bound T20I squad for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 and added to the ODI team for the three-game series against West Indies starting Sunday. Head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized the importance of developing a backup seam-bowling all-rounder, stating "We know how important a seam-bowling all-rounder will probably be in a year when we go to South Africa." Gambhir also noted that both players could potentially feature in the playing XI together when Pandya returns.

At 23 years old, Reddy is developing with great potential to succeed Pandya in this crucial role. Having a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder is a luxury for India, and Pandya's frequent absences have provided an opportunity to nurture Reddy's credentials. With the West Indies ODI series providing platform for game time, Reddy now has the chance to demonstrate he can replicate the depth and all-round capability Pandya brings to India's middle order.