"I don't think he will find a place either in the 50-over or the T20 format" - Sanjay Bangar on Test sensation's place for IND vs ENG 2025 T20Is

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar doesn't see Nitish Kumar Reddy featuring in the hosts' T20I or ODI squads for the upcoming series against England. He opined that the seam-bowling all-rounder was best suited to playing Tests in overseas conditions.

India suffered a 1-3 defeat against Australia in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Reddy was one of the star performers for the visitors, scoring 298 runs at an average of 37.25 in nine innings and picking up five wickets at an average of 38.00.

During a discussion on the Star Sports show 'Game Plan,' Bangar was asked whether Reddy would get a place as an all-rounder in India's squad for the T20Is 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," he replied.

"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.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was part of India's playing XI in all three T20Is against Bangladesh in October last year. He wasn't picked for the subsequent T20I series against South Africa as he was included in the Indian squad for BGT 2024-25.

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"Here is a player who can give you ideal balance for your overseas Test matches" - Sanjay Bangar on Nitish Kumar Reddy

Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled only 44 overs in the five Tests against Australia. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Sanjay Bangar opined that Nitish Kumar Reddy can provide the required balance to India in overseas Tests.

"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.

The former India all-rounder added that the 21-year-old should spend time at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) whenever he is not representing the country or his state.

"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," Bangar elaborated.

Nitish Kumar Reddy has scored 90 runs at a strike rate of 180.00 in three T20I innings. He has also picked up three wickets at an economy rate of 7.88 and could be an ideal candidate to either complement or be a backup for Hardik Pandya in white-ball cricket.