Dodda Ganesh, a former cricketer, has called out the Indian team management for not giving young all-rounder Nitish Reddy enough opportunities in the ongoing second and final Test of the home series against West Indies. The 22-year-old bowler had bowled just four overs in the first Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and did not bowl a single over in the West Indies’ first or second innings of the Test in Delhi. India enforced the follow-on after they dismissed the visitors for 248 in their first innings.

Dodda Ganesh questions Nitish Kumar Reddy’s all-rounder role

At the tea break on day four of the test match, the West Indies stood at 361/9 for an overall lead of 91 runs. Though India bowled a total of 109 overs in the innings, Reddy never bowled an over, while even opener Jaiswal had to bowl an over. Ganesh posted his displeasure on social media X (formerly Twitter), stating, “How are you preparing Nitish Reddy for all-rounder role if you don’t give him bowling at all? #INDvWI”. These sentiments from a former pacer highlight an increasing concern for India’s approach to developing genuine all-rounders for their future overseas commitments.

However, when he batted, Nitish did contribute useful runs by scoring a brisk 43 off 54 balls in India’s first innings. Shubman Gill’s team declared at a dominant 518/5, led by centuries from both openers Jaiswal 175 and Gill 129*. In the second innings, though asked to follow on, the West Indies batters displayed resolve and stretched their second innings up to 390. Their resistance ended when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Jayden Seales, caught at deep square leg by Washington Sundar, and India ended a defiant 79-run last-wicket stand. India now requires 121 runs for victory and a clean sweep of the two-Test series.