India's young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been released from the national Test squad ahead of the opening match of the two-Test series against South Africa, starting Friday, November 14, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The 22-year-old Andhra player has been asked to link up with the India A squad in Rajkot, where he will feature in the ongoing unofficial Test against South Africa A.
Reddy was part of India's preparatory camp in Kolkata and had trained alongside the senior players in the lead-up to the series. However, the team management decided to release him midway through the sessions, reportedly after it became clear that he would not find a place in the playing XI for the first Test. The move is believed to have been made to ensure
that Reddy gets sufficient game time and match practice after spending several weeks recovering from his injuries.
As per a report by India Today, the decision aligns with India's strategy of maintaining sharpness and form among its fringe players. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had hinted earlier in the week that Dhruv Jurel would retain his spot in the XI, effectively closing the door on Reddy's inclusion for now.
The youngster's recent months have been marred by fitness issues. He missed part of the Australia T20I series due to a quadriceps strain and later struggled with neck spasms, which limited his ability to train consistently. Although he has since recovered, the management feels that playing in the India A fixtures will help him regain rhythm and confidence.
For India, the decision also brings clarity to their Test balance, with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel serving as the primary all-round options. Reddy, meanwhile, will look to make the most of his time with India A to strengthen his case for a comeback to the senior setup.
