Indian Captain SHUBMAN GILL is celebrated with teammates Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade) Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin questioned justification, including Nitish Kumar Reddy, India, XI playing during the recently closed second test against West India. Although India convincingly won a series, orbiting Western India 2-0, Reddy’s involvement in matches was minimal. In the first test, only four exceeded bowed and in the second did not sit one, although West Indies published 390 in his other shifts. Captain SHUBMAN GILL decided not to give him the ball at any stage. Ashwin spoke on his YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat” and suggested that the team can decide either for a specialized dough or proven versatile such as Axar Patel.
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“If it is the role of Nitish Reddy, I feel that you can play a specialized dough or pitch. You can play Axar patel. What less did? He was the winner of the match,” Ashwin said. He also challenged the logic of a versatile selection, which contributes to the ball so little. “When does Nitish Reddy come into play? I’m not saying you need another pitch; if not, then play only a specialized dough. Axar did much better in this role than Nitish,” he added. Ashwin also emphasized Axar’s strengths, especially against rotation. “Axar patel has the best defense against spin. So if you don’t use it, especially if you have Siraj, Bumhrah and the second sailor, then Nitish can play for the firing depth. Otherwise I don’t see a point. Nitish is a gentle dough, but it could be a little brighter,” he said. Looking at the numbers, Axar played 14 tests for India and scored 646 runs on average 35.88, including the four fifties, and took 55 goals on average 19.34. Nitish, on the other hand, performed in nine tests, scored 386 runs of 29.69 with one century, and claimed eight goals at 39.62.
