No matter what India captain Shubman Gill does, criticism seems to follow. Even as the team management persisted with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy for the decisive third ODI against New Zealand, questions continued to be raised about Gill’s handling of the youngster.

Reddy repaid the faith with a composed half-century, his maiden ODI fifty, but former India cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath remained unconvinced by how the all-rounder was used, particularly with the ball.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Badrinath suggested that Reddy was asked to bowl eight overs “just for the sake of it,” arguing that the team management had little choice but to use him after selecting him in the XI.

“Okay, he scored a half-century. But apart from that, they gave him eight overs with the ball just for the sake of it, not because he is a proven bowler. It looked like he was given the ball only because they had picked him and had no option but to bowl him,” Badrinath said.

Despite being included in the three-match ODI series, Nitish Kumar Reddy has struggled to fully capitalise on the opportunities handed to him. His inconsistent performances have cast doubt over his immediate future in the format, even as India views him as a potential back-up for Hardik Pandya.

Badrinath also pointed to deeper issues within the Indian setup, suggesting that India’s series loss to an inexperienced New Zealand side at home exposed systemic flaws.

“What is he doing in the team and in what position? These questions arise because if such an inexperienced New Zealand side can come to India and win a series, then there is definitely something wrong somewhere,” he remarked.

Nitish Reddy vs New Zealand

The young all-rounder endured a series of mixed returns as India attempted to groom him for a larger role. In the second ODI at Rajkot, he managed just 20 runs and bowled two wicketless overs, drawing public criticism from assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, who said Reddy hadn’t “done a heck of a lot” with his chances.

Under pressure in the series decider at Indore, Reddy showed composure with the bat, scoring a determined 53 off 57 deliveries and adding a crucial 88-run stand with Virat Kohli. However, his bowling continued to raise questions. He finished the series without a wicket and conceded 53 runs in eight overs in the final match, as New Zealand sealed a historic 2–1 ODI series victory on Indian soil.