Ahead of the second test match against West Indies, Indian Test skipper Shubman Gill highlighted the importance of Nitish Kumar Reddy in the Test squad, mentioning that the all-rounder has a lot of potential and ability. The management wants to give more time to Reddy, especially at home, for his development, due to the upcoming Australia tour.

Nitish made an impression in his first series in Australia with his aggressive style against some of the best bowlers in the world. He made 298 runs in nine innings at an average of 37.25 with a high score of 114 in the Boxing Day Test, making him the second highest run scorer of the series from India. He also contributed with the ball taking 5 wickets in 44 overs. On the English tour, he had modest returns with 45 runs in 4 innings with a high score of 30 and took three wickets in two matches.

Shubman Gill about backing young talent

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, India captain Shubman Gill highlighted the importance of giving Nitish consistent game time. “We suffer a shortage of third-fourth seamers on tracks assisting pacers overseas. It would be unfair if we only play him abroad, as India won’t play much outside home over the next one and a half years,” Gill said. He stressed that Nitish’s ability to bowl 10-15 overs and contribute with the bat makes him a valuable asset. “We saw his batting in Australia; there’s definitely a lot of ability and potential. We want to give him as much game time in India and will decide his position based on the match situation,” he added.

Gill also emphasised the need to balance giving Nitish opportunities with putting out the best playing XI to garner the crucial points to qualify for the World Test Championship. The skipper also saluted veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, describing his presence as a "huge advantage" for the team. With the mix of youth and experience, India has their eyes set on enhancing their standing in the championship while also developing new talent like Nitish.