Ahead of the third and final ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai, India’s assistant coach Ryan Ten Dewchat said Nitish Kumar Reddy is emerging as the “natural successor” to Hardik Pandya as the team continues to build its all-round options for the future.India have already taken a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. In recent years, the team has added several all-rounders to its squad, with Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey providing all-rounder bowling options.
Among the fast bowlers, Nitish has made a strong case for himself and is seen as a long-term option behind Hardik.Speaking about the overall depth of the team, Ten Dochet said most of the available options are still bowling all-rounders.“And when Hardik plays, he obviously brings a different element because he is such a powerful batsman, such a powerful batsman. Kind of the scarcity of innings it’s difficult to find a finisher who gives you more as well,” he said.“So these guys are all continuing to perform really well. Like I said with Nitish, over the last 18 months, he’s shown glimpses of how important he is to this team, especially in this format. And I feel like his body is getting stronger and stronger, and I kind of feel like he’s the natural successor or replacement to Hardik,” he added.
The assistant coach also said that it is encouraging to see so many all-rounders contributing with both bat and ball, especially with the eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.“Even someone like Gurnoor (Brar) and Harsh (Dubey), they’re all all-rounders. But the fact that we feel we have guys who can hold the bat at number nine, and obviously looking forward to the next 14 or 15 months, that’s going to be very important.”
Especially in South Africa, when you want to play three off-season seamers, those guys are going to need the bat. “There are a lot of good signs on the all-round front as well as on the fast bowling front,” he said.Ten Dewichat also expressed his satisfaction with the emerging bowling group developing behind senior bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, both of whom are missing this series.“It’s great. Like I said, one of the big things when this coaching staff started was always the bowlers moving on, especially with players like Shami not playing anymore.
This week or a few weeks ago when we came together in Chandigarh to see these three young men come, it was literally a wow moment.“The way Gurnoor (Berar) bowled in his first two games, to see a young Indian player get to 147, 148, it’s like, I’m sure you’re all as excited as we are. Obviously the T20 was a huge step up for the next 15 months and to balance out the experience that this team has.”With the 2027 World Cup underway, the India management seems to be focusing on building depth in both the all-rounder and fast bowling departments, and Nitish is among the players being closely monitored as part of these plans.