Former Indian batter and analyst Hanuma Vihari has reckoned that the Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was the biggest positive from the just-concluded three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Vihari showered praise on Reddy for bowling exceptionally well. Notably, Reddy has scalped six wickets from three innings, emerging as the leading wicket-taker in the series.
“I felt Nitish Kumar Reddy was the biggest positive of this series due to his comeback in bowling in the second match. You can always talk about whether he is equal to Hardik or not, batting can always improve, but with his improvement in bowling, he has come to that level. I think he can still ramp up his pace and work on his bowling and body,” Vihari said on his YouTube channel.
“How many matches can he consistently play injury-free? That is the biggest question. With Hardik also injured and not in the team, it depends on how Nitish can take that all-rounder slot,” he added.
Interestingly, Reddy was released from the Asian Games 2026 squad and has been included in the ODI squad for the West Indies series. Speaking on the same, Vihari asserted that Reddy is being looked as a vital player in India’s 2027 ODI World Cup plans.
“If Hardik Pandya is not fit for the 2027 World Cup in time, then Nitish Kumar Reddy is your all-rounder. I think they are looking to groom him, as he was removed from the Asian Games squad and added for the ODI series against the West Indies, keeping the World Cup in mind. Asian Games is also important, no doubt, but the World Cup is your priority. They missed it in 2023 but will not want to miss it this time,” Vihari concluded.
