Nitish Reddy's ODI and T20I selection blocked by Ex-India coach

Nitish Reddy was one of the few positives in an otherwise disappointing tour of Australia for Team India. While India suffered a crushing 3-1 loss in the five-match Test series, the young allrounder managed to make a big impact.

After he was named in the Test squad, not many were expecting him to find a place in the playing eleven. However, the team management gave him a chance from the very first Test and Nitish Reddy did not disappoint. He played in all five Tests and made a number of useful contributions.

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He managed to contribute with both bat and ball during the series. With the bat, the Andhra allrounder scored 298 runs at an average of 37.25 including a brilliant century in the fourth Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. With the ball, the youngster picked up five wickets at an average of 38.00.

Sanjay Bangar's prediction for Nitish Reddy:

With the allrounder impressing on the challenging tour, many believe that he is the next big thing in Indian cricket. Many have also backed to become a regular for Team India in all three formats. However, former India allrounder and batting coach Sanjay Bangar has a different view.

Speaking on Star Sports, the former cricketer said that Nitish Reddy would struggle to find a place in the ODI and the T20I team. Not only that, but Bangar also said that Reddy is unlikely to be picked in the team for the home Tests while calling him an 'extremely critical member for the overseas Test matches'.

Bangar made the comment when asked whether Nitish Reddy would be picked in the team for the upcoming T20I series against England.

"It's still early days for me. Here is a chance for you, if you cast your mind back over the last 10-12 years, who was the guy who did that job really well? Irfan Pathan is the one who comes to mind, who bowled with the new ball or one change, and who also gave you runs whenever required," said Sanjay Bangar.

"Irfan came out of the under-19 system. Nitish is not somebody who has come out of the under-19 system. He is past that stage. For me, he is an extremely critical member for the overseas Test matches. I don't think he will find a place either in the 50-over or the T20 format or, for that matter, even in home Test matches," Bangar added.

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Speaking further, Bangar said that the seam-bowling allrounder is a player who can give the team an ideal balance for overseas Test matches. He said that Nitish Reddy's real value is in the Test team for overseas matches. He also advised Reddy to sharpen his bowling skills at the National Cricket Academy.

"However, here is a player who can give you ideal balance for your overseas Test matches and that's where the real value is," he said.

"That's where not necessarily traveling with the Indian team, but whenever he is off national duty and off his state duty, the National Cricket Academy has got a massive role to play in terms of getting him up to that workload to bowl 10 or 15 overs really with penetration, and that's an opportunity which is very, very enticing," he added.