Photo via Hindustan Times

‘Cannot match Hardik Pandya’: Ex-India pacer urges team management to use Nitish Kumar Reddy ‘according to his talent’

Former fast bowler Mohit Sharma has advised the squad leadership to maximize the capabilities of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy rather than evaluating him against the seasoned Hardik Pandya. With Hardik sidelined due to injuries sustained after the 2026 Indian Premier League, the management views Nitish as a similar option to maintain squad equilibrium.

Nitish recently claimed six wickets during a three-match bilateral fixture against Afghanistan before being shifted to the fifty-over roster for upcoming matches against the West Indies beginning September 27. While head coach Gautam Gambhir noted that Hardik is not currently cleared for full ten-over workloads, Sharma cautioned supporters against expecting identical batting and bowling output from the young prospect.