- July 23, 2025
Just when you thought things couldn’t get more chaotic for Team India on this tough English tour, the injury gods strike again — this time taking out Nitish Kumar Reddy. The promising all-rounder, who was slowly carving out a role with grit and versatility, has been ruled out with a knee injury from a gym session. While his stats this series don’t scream “match-winner,” they don’t tell the full story either. Make no mistake — losing Reddy is a bigger blow than it looks, and here’s why.
The Perfect Lower Middle-Order Glue — Now Missing
Let’s be honest — India’s middle and lower order in overseas Tests has always been a bit… wobbly. When wickets tumble, panic spreads. That’s where Nitish Kumar Reddy came in — a steady No.7 or No.8 who added a sense of balance. He wasn’t just another batter thrown in for numbers’ sake. His inclusion after the Leeds loss wasn’t accidental; it was tactical. India was desperately looking for someone who could hold the bat without looking like a tailender and offer a few handy overs with the ball.
In Reddy, India had a player who could stretch the batting depth while giving the bowlers some breathing space. He may not have set the scoreboard on fire — 45 runs at 11.25 isn’t pretty — but his presence meant India didn’t have to risk a collapse every time the top order failed. Plus, his gentle but deceptive swing provided breakthroughs at Lord’s when the main pacers couldn’t get it right.
Reddy Was Just Getting Comfortable in English Conditions
You know what they say about cricket, “Form is temporary; class is permanent.” Reddy was a bit of both in the middle. He was just getting started. After a debut to forget at Edgbaston, he was much more assured at Lord’s. He took everything Archer and Stokes threw at him — bouncers, barbs, and all — and held his ground. People can debate numbers all day long, but that 53-ball effort meant nothing in terms of runs (which only totaled 13), but it showed everything about his mindset.
It’s not easy for a young cricketer to walk into swinging, seaming English conditions and look settled, but Reddy showed signs he was adapting. He even played Ben Stokes’ magical deliveries with a straight bat until one finally breached his defense. You could feel a big score brewing — one of those innings that could turn a match when the rest are crumbling.
No Like-for-Like Replacement? Good Luck, India.
Truth be told, India’s team combo is walking a tightrope at the moment. It is not simply about replacing Reddy with another all-rounder because… There isn’t one like him in the squad. Shardul Thakur is the logical choice, but he has shown a mixed form with both bat and ball.
Kuldeep might find himself back in the XI if India leans on the safety net of spin. But do you want to stack up spinners on a Manchester pitch that might favor pacers? Then there’s Dhruv Jurel — an exciting batter, yes, but not an all-rounder. Going pace-heavy by adding Anshul Kamboj or Prasidh Krishna is tempting, but leaves the tail longer than you’d want.
In short, Reddy’s injury isn’t just about losing a player — it’s about losing balance. His unique blend of lower-order batting and bowling relief gave India options. Without him, it’s a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul — patch up one hole, and another opens up.
For more, visit JeetBuzz News to read our quality Cricket Blog updates. Explore if you want to reminisce and enjoy all of your favourite cricket players and nostalgic match moments. To ensure that you never miss out, keep updated and join in the fun!
