Star India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been advised an extended period of rest by BCCI’s medical team and hence, his availability for the three-match ODI series against England is doubtful, according to a report in The Times of India. Reddy is yet to start his rehab.
Reddy was ruled out of the T20I series against Ireland and England after experiencing discomfort in his left quadriceps.
As per the report, the injury is only a minor quadriceps strain, which has sidelined Reddy since the third ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai. The team management is monitoring his recovery and remains optimistic that he will rejoin the team sometime in July.
A return during the England series appears unlikely, making the T20Is against Zimbabwe the most realistic
avenue for Reddy to resume competitive cricket. The selectors are expected to take a final call soon.
India’s team for the ODI series against England will assemble in phases, with some cricketers, including skipper Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, expected to arrive early to start their preparations.
The remaining cricketers are expected to join the team by July 12, ahead of the opening ODI in Birmingham.
Reddy is undergoing rehab at BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is expected to remain there for at least a month, to be fit for India’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August, the schedule for which is yet to be announced.
Reddy sustained the injury while bowling in the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamsala and was rested for the second game in Lucknow. He returned for the series finale in Chennai, where he bowled six wicketless overs for 42 runs before reporting discomfort after the match, as per earlier reports.
The development left India without either of their frontline pace-bowling all-rounders, with Hardik Pandya also nursing a leg injury.
