Follow UsNitish Kumar Reddy has played 10 Tests for India so far. In his brief career so far, he averages under 30 with the bat, and with the ball, that number goes up to nearly 40.
Reddy came into the XI in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati to add a little more depth in both the batting and bowling departments, but has failed to have an impact so far. He scored just 10 off 18 in the first innings and bowled just six out of the 151 overs. Even in the second dig, he bowled just four overs, with even Yashasvi Jaiswal bowling ahead of him.
Keeping all that in mind, former India opener Kris Srikkanth does not believe that the 22-year-old is worthy of being called an all-rounder.
"Who called Nitish Reddy an all-rounder? Looking at his bowling, can anyone call him an all-rounder? He hit that one century in Melbourne. Good. Tell me what has he done in Test cricket after that? One sunny day doesn't make a summer. If he is an all-rounder then I am also a terrific all-rounder. You cannot term him as an all-rounder. Does he have any pace or any movement or anything?" he said on his YouTube channel 'Cheeky Cheeka'.
Srikkanth believes a specialist batter like Sarfaraz Khan should be preferred ahead of Reddy.
"I don't understand why Sarfaraz did not play in Australia. In India he played and did well. Give him a chance at least and see. He has scored runs. I don't understand the selection policy. Two batters are playing, two wicketkeepers, someone is playing as an all-rounder. How much has Nitish bowled even for SRH? He has come through SRH, let's be clear," he added.
India will have to chase down a target in excess of 500 to win the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati and level the series. The Proteas had claimed a 30-run victory in the first Test in Kolkata and are on the verge of a historic series win in India.