"Just not working out right now" - Aakash Chopra questions handling of Team India youngster after AUS vs IND 2025 1st T20I

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has raised questions over the management of young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. His remarks came after the first T20I of the five-match series between India and Australia on Wednesday, October 29, in Canberra, which ended in a no-result due to rain.

Earlier in the day, the BCCI announced that Reddy, who was recovering from a left quadriceps injury sustained during the second ODI in Adelaide, had complained of neck spasms. The setback affected his recovery and mobility, ruling him out of the first three T20Is.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra questioned Reddy’s role in the team prior to the injury, noting that the youngster was not given enough opportunities despite being part of the playing XI.

The 48-year-old further pointed out that Reddy was viewed as Hardik Pandya’s backup and a “future-ready” option for India, but that plan has not materialized as he has not been given enough chances. Aakash Chopra said:

“As for Nitish Kumar Reddy, he had quadriceps injury, and after that, he also developed neck spasms. When all that happens, he ends up being ruled out for three matches, meaning he’s unavailable for selection. He didn’t play the last ODI match either. In the previous one he did play, he bowled only a few overs and batted very low in the order. Before that, he played in the Test matches, in one he batted and in another he bowled. The day he was promoted up the batting order, he didn’t bowl at all.” “We were trying to make ourselves future-ready or future-proof, considering that Hardik Pandya might not always be available due to injuries, but Nitish Kumar Reddy won’t be that guy, because we just haven’t been able to give him enough chances. Sometimes he gets injured himself; other times, he doesn’t get enough opportunities after coming back. So whichever way you look at it, it’s just not working out right now,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya is also missing the ongoing T20I series against Australia as he continues to recover from the left quadriceps injury he sustained during the 2025 Asia Cup.

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“He might not even play” - Aakash Chopra’s massive statement on Nitish Kumar Reddy

In the same video, Aakash Chopra also asserted that Nitish Kumar Reddy might not feature in the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, starting November 14 in Kolkata. The former batter further pointed out that once Hardik Pandya returns from injury, Reddy could find himself on the bench for the upcoming white-ball assignments as well. Aakash Chopra said:

“I don’t see a clear role for him at the moment. It’s possible he might not even play in the Tests against South Africa, because he hasn’t been given enough opportunities yet. So from any angle I look at it, it’s not looking like a good story.” “Here he’s injured, but even if I look at it from his point of view, when will he actually get tested? He’s not even being tested properly. So, Hardik Pandya will be available once the South Africa series starts. He’ll play five matches there, then another five against New Zealand, including the ODIs. That means Nitish Kumar Reddy will now have to rest, which is really unfortunate, totally unfortunate for him,” he added.

Nitish Kumar Reddy has represented India in 15 matches across formats, scoring 503 runs with one fifty and one century to his name, while also picking up 11 wickets.

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Edited by Dev Sharma