Gautam Gambhir ordered to throw Nitish Kumar Reddy out of ODI XI: "Can't play with this inept bowling"

Former India National Cricket Team player Kris Srikkanth has urged the head coach Gautam Gambhir to throw the young pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy out of the ODI playing XI.

Kris Srikkanth stated that the Andhra and Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy doesn't deserve to be part of India's ODI playing XI with inept bowling.

Nitish Kumar Reddy yet to shine vs Australia

All-rounder Reddy is being groomed by the selection committee and the team management to become the next Hardik Pandya or even better than him.

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Reddy has been given opportunities across all three formats of the game, and he is well-liked by the Indian coaching staff, which is led by Gautam Gambhir.

He was part of India's playing XI in both matches of the recent home Test series against West Indies, but didn't make any major contributions as he didn't get opportunities to bat or bowl.

Also, Nitish Kumar Reddy has been part of India's playing XI in the first two ODIs against Australia, but is yet to fire.

In the ODI series opener in Perth, Reddy scored 19* runs and returned with figures of 0/16 in 2.1 overs. Meanwhile, in the second ODI in Adelaide, he amassed just 8 runs and returned with the figures of 0/24 in 3 overs.

Kuldeep has to play. I am not sure if they'll drop Nitish Kumar Reddy or someone else - Kris Srikkanth

In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Kris Srikkanth urged the Gautam Gambhir-led team management to bring Kuldeep Yadav into the playing XI for the Sydney ODI against Australia and drop Reddy.

The 1983 World Cup-winning player stated that Reddy is a capable batter, but the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav would offer India the ideal combination. He stated:

"Kuldeep has to play. I am not sure if they'll drop Nitish Kumar Reddy or someone else. Nitish Kumar Reddy can't play with this inept bowling. It'll get smashed. Batting, he is capable of hitting sixes, but he comes in the end with limited deliveries left."

"If needed, have Harshit Rana at 8 and Kuldeep at 9. The way Harshit batted today, I liked it. I was convinced with his batting and the way he approached his batting. So do it this way and drop Nitish Reddy. You can't drop Harshit Rana now as he picked up two wickets as well. So drop Nitish Reddy and play Kuldeep Yadav."

If Kuldeep had played, India would have surely won today - Kris Srikkanth

Srikkanth further stated that India would have surely registered a victory in the Adelaide ODI against Australia and leveled the series 1-1, had Kuldeep Yadav been included in the playing XI. He said:

"If Kuldeep had played, India would have surely won today. They were clueless against spin. India had a brilliant chance even when Australia were 187/5.

"That's where they made the mistake of not continuing with Washington Sundar and Axar Patel. Even if they get hit, they'll get you wickets. I don't understand the logic behind not playing Kuldeep Yadav at all," added Srikkanth.

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