IND vs NZ 2026: Nitish Kumar Reddy should have played from the first game, says Irfan Pathan

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has opined that Nitish Kumar Reddy should have been included from the very first match of the ODI series against New Zealand, which concluded on Sunday, January 18. Following Reddy’s performance in the third ODI, Pathan believes that India must persist with the youngster even if he goes through a lean patch.

Reddy was drafted into the playing XI for the second ODI as a replacement for the injured Washington Sundar, but he had limited involvement in the game. However, he was entrusted with greater responsibility in the series decider. While he went wicketless in his eight overs, Reddy made a significant impact with the bat, scoring a composed 53 and forging a crucial 88-run partnership with Virat Kohli during India’s chase of 338.

Despite India suffering a disappointing series defeat, Pathan identified Reddy as one of the major positives. The former cricketer highlighted the 22-year-old’s ability to clock speeds of around 135 kmph and backed him as a potential long-term replacement for Hardik Pandya in the Indian setup.

"Nitish Kumar Reddy was a positive. He scored a fifty with the bat and Reddy played instead of Washington Sundar in Rajkot. I felt he should have played from the first game. The way he batted, Reddy showed he had the potential to play big shots and can rotate strike. Reddy was also involved in good partnerships in both games,” said Pathan on his YouTube channel.

"Reddy can play those big shots easily, whether it’s the pull shot or playing straight. The way Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled, he touched speeds of 135. It’s a decent speed and it shows he has the potential to be Hardik Pandya’s backup. Even if Reddy fails, the management should persist with him and India will eventually get a good all-rounder,” he added.

Pathan further noted that Harshit Rana’s all-round contributions were another major positive for India in the series. He was particularly impressed by the youngster’s batting displays in the first and third ODIs, where Rana showed composure and intent under pressure.

"The way Harshit Rana has batted – he scored 29 in the first game and helped India add 99 runs with Virat Kohli. Rana played those big shots and he made Devon Conway his bunny, getting him out in all three matches. But Rana must bowl better against the right-handers. If you look at the numbers, he averages 15.7 against left-handers but averages 34.6 against the right-handers,” said Pathan.