Legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that the India national cricket team does not require the services of fast bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the upcoming Test series against the South Africa national cricket team.
Ravichandran Ashwin said wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel should be included in the playing eleven in the upcoming Test series as India should make use of his excellent form.
You don’t need Nitish Kumar Reddy because you have two fast bowlers and three spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin
Young fast bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has been quite injured, was part of India’s playing eleven in both the Test matches of the recent home series against the West Indies national cricket team.
However, despite being included in the team, he did not make any major contribution in the 2–0 victory. In the opening match of the Test series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled four overs in the West Indies’ first innings and did not bowl in the second innings. He did not get a chance to bat even in India’s only innings.
As the action moved towards the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the all-rounder scored 43 runs and after that, he just fielded. India bowled 81.5 overs in the first innings and 118.5 overs in the second innings, but Nitish Kumar Reddy was not given a chance to bowl.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin has now sought to drop Nitish Kumar Reddy from the playing eleven as he feels that he will not require the services of the all-rounder.
“There can be no debate about Sai Sudarshan. Dhruv Jurel should come into the team, lower down the order. You don’t need Nitish Kumar Reddy because you have two fast bowlers and three spinners. Dhruv Jurel has to play. There is someone who is in good form, please use him. He is in good form and is performing well,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
When England came here for the series in 2024, Jurel played a brilliant innings in Ranchi – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin further said that Dhruv Jurel is in the best form of his life and the team management will have to show enough courage to keep him as two wicketkeeper-batsmen in the playing eleven against South Africa.
“When England came here for the series in 2024, Jurel played a brilliant innings in Ranchi. He is in the best form of his life; he scored two centuries against South Africa A. The first century came when the team was in trouble, so I think the management will have to take a decision,” he said.
Notably, Jurel has been Rishabh Pant’s disciple in Test cricket and did an exceptional job in Pant’s absence in the home Test series against West Indies. The scores in his last eight first-class innings read – 140, 1, 56, 125, 44, 6*, 132*, 127*.
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If these three spinners play then there is no possibility of Akshar playing – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin also feels that the chances of Axar Patel being included in the Test playing XI are very less as Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar have been included in the team.
“It all depends on the conditions. Both the Tests will be played in the East. The ball will turn there, so you have to decide how many spinners you want to go with. Ravindra Jadeja is confirmed as the left-arm spinner; Kuldeep will have to play. Washington Sundar will also play. If these three spinners play, there is no chance of Axar playing; he can come only if Jadeja is not in the team.”
“You should not make the mistake of including Axar as he is in good touch. Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah will play as seamers at Eden Gardens, so five bowlers are gone,” he said.