Nitish Reddy not bowling is baffling to me: Aakash Chopra

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has opened up on the Indian all-rounder Nitish Rana not getting enough batting and bowling chances in the two-match Test series against the West Indies.

While Reddy didn’t bat in the first Test against the West Indies in Ahmedabad, he didn’t come out to bowl in the second and final Test in Delhi, which didn’t go down well with the former Indian cricketer.

"I have no idea. He did not bat in the previous game, he did not bowl in this game. Initially you understood that, but there came a point where the captain tried everyone, but nothing happened. So why not Nitish Reddy," Aakash Chopra said on ESPNCricinfo.

"He is a batter who can bowl and is playing this match as an all-rounder. Him not bowling is baffling to me. That also puts a question mark on the selection. One Test match he gets slotted at 8. Then when he gets to bat at No.5 he does not bowl. Then the question ahead of the South Africa series becomes, what we do with that No.6 slot," he added.

Furthermore, on the fourth day of the second Test, Indian bowlers failed to create an impact as the West Indies batters had an exceptional day, taking the lead on follow-on in the second innings. Chopra asserted that when wickets weren’t falling, the captain should’ve gone with Nitish Reddy.

"In bowling-friendly conditions where wickets are not falling, the least you can do is give him a bowl. I don't have an answer to the question of whether they are confused. Is it down to the coach or the captain, or maybe both? But logically, it does not make sense that Nitish did not bowl a single ball in the 2nd Test," he concluded.

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