India captain Shubman Gill has thrown his full support behind promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, highlighting his talent and importance to the team’s long-term Test plans. Speaking ahead of the second Test against West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Gill said the management is determined to give the youngster as much game time as possible — especially at home.
Backing a Young All-Rounder
Nitish, 22, is being seen as a key piece in India’s evolving Test puzzle. In the first match of the series, he bowled just four overs and didn’t get to bat, but Gill made it clear that the team isn’t judging him on one performance.
“There have been conversations about that. We suffer a shortage of third-fourth seamers on tracks assisting pacers away from home. It would be unfair if we only play him overseas,” Gill explained during the pre-match press conference.
“We are not going to play much overseas cricket over the next one and a half years. That would mean not giving him many chances if he’s restricted to overseas matches. To be able to back a guy who can bowl 10–15 overs in a day and bat as well — we saw how he batted in Australia. There’s definitely a lot of ability and potential in him,” he added.
From Breakout Star to Regular Contender
Nitish announced himself in style during India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia, scoring 298 runs in nine innings at an average of 37.25, including a superb century in the Boxing Day Test. He was India’s second-highest run-scorer in the series and also chipped in with five wickets.
In England, though the numbers were modest — 45 runs in four innings and three wickets in two Tests — his temperament impressed the team management.
Gill emphasized the need to give him consistent exposure at home as well.
“We want to give him as much game time as possible, especially in India, and help him grow. Depending on the situation, we’ll see whether he bats up the order or down the order. That flexibility is something we want to build with him.”
The Bigger Picture: WTC Points and Team Balance
Gill also reminded that every match counts toward ICC World Test Championship (WTC) qualification. Fielding the right combination, including a genuine seam-bowling all-rounder like Nitish, can make a huge difference in long tournaments.
“We want to put out the best XI to get maximum WTC points. That’s the ultimate goal,” he said.
Jadeja’s Brilliance Remains the Gold Standard
While discussing India’s all-round options, Gill also heaped praise on Ravindra Jadeja, calling his presence “a huge advantage” to the team.
“A player like him, who can bat at number six and deliver with the ball, is rare. We’ve seen the quality of his batting on spinning tracks. That’s why he’s the number one all-rounder in the world right now. We’re lucky to have him,” Gill said.
Jadeja’s century and four-wicket haul in the opening Test earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award. His overall numbers this year have been outstanding — 659 runs in seven Tests at an average of 82.37, with two centuries and five fifties. While his bowling average (53.45) has been slightly below par, he’s still taken 11 wickets, including two four-fors.
“Everyone knows about his fielding. His throws, his catches, his intensity… batters often think twice before taking that second run,” Gill added with a smile.
Building the Future Around Balance
With Jadeja providing experience and Nitish bringing fresh energy, India seems to be shaping a balanced all-round core. Gill’s words make it clear — this is not just about the upcoming series against West Indies but a larger vision to strengthen India’s Test team for the future.
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