"He should be grateful" - Aakash Chopra on Team India's thinking of establishing Nitish Kumar Reddy in the IND vs BAN 2024 T20I series

Aakash Chopra has noted that Nitish Kumar Reddy should be grateful to the Indian team management for giving him the perfect opportunities to excel in the recently concluded T20I series against Bangladesh. He also praised the seam-bowling all-rounder for making the most of his chances, especially with the bat.

India thrashed Bangladesh by 133 runs in the third T20I in Hyderabad on Saturday, October 12, to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Reddy, who batted at No. 4 in the first two T20Is, was sent at No. 7 and was dismissed for a golden duck.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener noted that Reddy was given the best opportunity to make a mark with the bat in the first two T20Is.

"Their thinking was to establish Nitish Kumar Reddy in this series. He should be grateful that the Indian team thought they should do like that. You don't get that number easily. Hardik (Pandya), Rinku (Singh) or Riyan Parag could have also played at No. 4," he said (5:10).

Chopra praised the youngster for showcasing his big-hitting ability down the ground, much like Sanju Samson.

"However, you asked Nitish to play. The Player of the Match performance he gave in the second match, the way he batted, he also has the same ability that Sanju has. He can hit straight sixes while standing in his position," he elaborated.

Reddy smashed 74 runs off 34 deliveries in the second T20I in Delhi. He had earlier scored an unbeaten 15-ball 16 in the series opener in Gwalior.

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"He is a work in progress in bowling and it was seen in yesterday's match as well" - Aakash Chopra on Nitish Kumar Reddy

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Nitish Kumar Reddy was found slightly wanting in the bowling department, especially in the third T20I.

"He is a work in progress in bowling and it was seen in yesterday's match as well. Litton Das hit five fours in an over. He didn't have an idea how to come out of it, whether to bowl slower ones, yorkers, or something else. He couldn't figure that out and he (Litton) kept hitting," he said (5:30).

The renowned commentator pointed out that Suryakumar Yadav still gave Reddy more opportunities than Washington Sundar with the ball.

"However, the captain thought it was okay even if got hit. He would again bring him back. Washington Sundar has picked up three wickets in this series but he got only four overs. You could have given him four overs in every match. You didn't do that. You have the choice of whom to bowl how many overs and when, and the team decides at that point in time," Chopra elaborated.

Despite conceding 20 runs in his first over, Reddy was reintroduced into the attack in the 17th over. The right-arm seamer dismissed Mahedi Hasan in his second over and finished with figures of 3/31 in three overs.