Sundar evita tener a Hardik Pandya y Nitish Reddy en India XI fuera de IND vs ENG 1st T20I.

After managing to turn heads with some stellar performances in Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Nitish Reddy is all set to feature in the IND vs ENG T20I series. The Hyderabad all-rounder is the nearest replacement for Hardik Pandya in the India cricket team, although he has miles to go to get to the former captain’s level. While fielding both Pandya and Reddy in the playing XI for IND vs ENG 1st T20I would surely boost India’s batting and bowling, it will be unwise to have both of them in the same line-up.

Nitish Reddy not needed in XI when Hardik Pandya is there

Hardik is arguably India’s frontline middle-order batter and one of the first-choice pacer. There is no room to leave him out of the playing XI and that is the end of the discussion. Period. But including Nitish in the line-up when Pandya is already present makes little sense for India. One could point out that Reddy is in good form off late, having already made his T20I debut last year where he scored 90 runs and took three wickets from three T20Is. However, India would be wasting their resources by deploying the Hyderabad all-rounder in the side when the likes of Washington Sundar will warm the bench.

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Firstly, India are expected to have three pacers in the team without counting Reddy. Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana are most likely to be a part of the playing XI. Pandya will be the fourth. Even if India decide to go with just two pacers, then it takes the count to three without Reddy. Essentially, India will not require the services of the all-rounder then.

If it comes to increasing the batting depth, then India have a viable solution in the form of Washington Sundar. Having played 52 T20Is and amassed 161 runs, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder can be a better option for India, given that head coach Gambhir is very impressed with his skills with the bat. With the ball too, Sundar can contribute, having already bagged 47 wickets so far in the shortest format.

With the addition of Sundar, India’s spin department comprising of Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy / Ravi Bishnoi will get a boost and will help the side maintain a fine balance with the pace unit. But with Reddy, the balance will be disrupted, something that India can avoid.