The former CSK star criticized the BCCI men’s selection committee for the controversial selection of Nitish Kumar Reddy in India’s ODI squad against New Zealand and questioned the neglect of CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad despite his unmatched record in List A cricket.
India revealed the squad for the ODIs against New Zealand and faced a lot of questions over some controversial selections. BCCI announced the roster, and within minutes the criticisms started pouring in as everyone saw another set of selections along with the controversial snub.
The Ajit Agarkar-led committee is upset with the current depth of players contracted to the BCCI, as selecting only 15 players every time leaves out one or two deserving players from the team and the committee has faced widespread backlash time and again.
Former CSK batsman raised questions on Nitish Kumar Reddy’s selection in ODI
Former Indian batsman Subramaniam Badrinath, widely known as a CSK player in the IPL, has questioned Nitish Kumar Reddy’s inclusion in the ODI squad against New Zealand. The selection committee chose him as a replacement for Hardik Pandya as a seam-bowling all-rounder.
Badrinath criticized the selection on his YouTube channel, saying, “With two all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy is in the team. I don’t know why he is in the team. He says he is an all-rounder, but with the ball, he is smashing everywhere. Ruturaj Gaikwad has worked hard.”
He argued that Reddy had played only 2 ODIs before his selection, and had managed to score only 27 runs, coming down the order, with no wickets in his account. Badrinath also argued that the Andhra captain is criticized in domestic cricket whenever he comes to bowl.
Badrinath said on CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad’s List A form, “No one has such a record.”
Nitish Kumar Reddy did not play in the series against South Africa and his place in the New Zealand series is also not confirmed as Ravindra Jadeja will be a probable all-rounder in the XI.
Badrinath felt that Ruturaj Gaikwad could have been included in the team and blamed Reddy’s selection for his omission.
“Why is he not in the team, and why is Nitish Kumar Reddy in the team? There is definitely some inconsistency. The other team’s selections were as expected and very good. The only concern is the selection of Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Ruturaj Gaikwad,” he said.
The former CSK batsman also reflected on Ruturaj Gaikwad’s amazing List A form and his impressive records, highlighting recent international centuries and Vijay Hazare Trophy exploits.
Badrinath said, “They sent him (Ruturaj Gaikwad) at No. 4 against South Africa because there was no room at the top, and he responded with a century. After this, he has been scoring runs for fun in List-A cricket at every opportunity. He has two centuries and a half-century in six innings, taking 5,000 runs with an overall List-A average of over 57. No one has such a record.”
Recent stats of Nitish Kumar Reddy in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26
Nitish Kumar Reddy made a comeback for Andhra Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and was named captain of the team. He has played all five rounds for Andhra Pradesh and has taken wickets in every game this season.
With an unbeaten half-century against Railways, Reddy has scored 139 runs in 5 matches at an average and easy strike rate of 34.75. In terms of wickets, he has taken 6 wickets in 5 matches, but his economy has been high.
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