Nitish Kumar Reddy played a crucial role for India with both bat and ball in the Lord’s Test. However, on Sunday (July 20), it was reported by ESPNCricinfo that the star all-rounder has been ruled out of India’s final two Tests against England. The fourth Test will take place in Manchester starting July 23, followed by the fifth and final Test at the Oval in London from July 31.
After missing the series opener in Leeds, Nitish Kumar Reddy featured in the second and third Tests. He had limited impact in Birmingham, scoring just two runs and bowling six overs without taking a wicket.
But at Lord’s, he made a significant contribution by dismissing England’s openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley in the same over during the first innings and removing Crawley again in the second innings, while also scoring 30 and 13 runs in those innings respectively.
Nitish Kumar Reddy made his Test debut for India against Australia in Perth last year and impressed many with his batting. He notched his maiden Test century during the first innings of the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne.
Nitish Kumar Reddy reportedly sustained a knee injury during a training session.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 28: Nitish Kumar Reddy of India acknowledges the crowd at the end of day three of the NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Test match for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the 22-year-old Andhra Pradesh cricketer injured his knee during a gym workout on Sunday, with scans revealing ligament damage.
This injury deals a significant blow to India’s hopes of winning a Test series in England after an eighteen-year gap. The team is already grappling with injuries to Rishabh Pant, Arshdeep Singh, and Akash Deep. While Pant’s participation as wicketkeeper remains uncertain, both Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh are expected to miss the upcoming match in Manchester, starting July 23.
With Nitish Kumar Reddy sidelined, Shardul Thakur is anticipated to be included in India’s playing XI for the Manchester Test. Shardul, who has taken 33 wickets in 12 Tests, was preferred over Nitish in the series opener at Headingley, Leeds, last month.
So far, Nitish Kumar Reddy has featured in seven Tests for India, scoring 343 runs across 13 innings and claiming eight wickets. His best bowling figures stand at 2 for 32.
In the current Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, England leads the series 2-1, having won in Leeds and at Lord’s, while India secured their maiden Test victory at Edgbaston.