IND vs AFG: Nitish Reddy in focus as India look to fill in allrounders' slot

India's cricket team is grappling with a shortage of seam-bowling all-rounders, as they looked to bolster their lineup during a recent T20I against Afghanistan. The team management and selectors are actively seeking a backup for the injury-prone Hardik Pandya. Nitish Reddy and Shivam Dube, who bowled 51 runs in three overs between them, found themselves in the spotlight as they came on only after the frontline bowlers had done their part.

While Reddy is still recovering from a three-month injury layoff and Dube has been bowling sparingly in recent years, the team is keen to address this issue ahead of the ODI World Cup following the Asian Games. The next T20Is against Afghanistan will serve as an audition for Reddy. Both Pandya and Reddy are undergoing fitness assessments at the Centre of Excellence (CoE).

Other potential options, such as Suryansh Shedge, Venkatesh Iyer, and Harshit Rana, are also nursing injuries. The upcoming Asian Games in Japan, where Reddy is slated to participate, could provide an opportunity to assess his fitness and potential availability for international matches. However, the injury to Varun Chakravarthy further complicates matters, as his participation in the upcoming T20Is against Afghanistan and the Asian Games remains uncertain.

The next two matches at the Kotla will be crucial for Reddy and Dube, as they look to prove their worth in filling the crucial all-rounders slot.