India suffered an early setback ahead of the T20I series against Australia as young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the first three matches. Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh’s exclusion from the playing XI in Canberra has once again sparked discussions among fans.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Injury Woes Continue
Reddy, who made his ODI debut recently, was already recovering from a left quadriceps injury sustained during the second ODI in Adelaide. However, just as he began his rehabilitation, he complained of neck spasms, which further affected his recovery and mobility.
The BCCI Medical Team has confirmed that they are monitoring his progress closely.
During the ODI series, Reddy’s performances were modest — he scored 27 runs across two innings and bowled 5.1 overs for 40 runs without picking up a wicket. He missed the third and final ODI in Sydney as a result of his injury.
Arshdeep Singh’s Ongoing Exclusion Raises Eyebrows
While Reddy battles fitness issues, Arshdeep Singh’s absence from the T20I squad’s playing XI has left many surprised. The 25-year-old, who earlier this year became India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, was overlooked for the series opener at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Arshdeep featured in only two games during the Asia Cup, where he picked up two wickets and reached the milestone of 100 T20I wickets, becoming the first Indian bowler to do so. Despite his proven record, the team management opted to back Harshit Rana, who impressed with a four-wicket haul in the final ODI against Australia.
Rana’s ability to contribute with the bat at No. 8 also gave him an edge, alongside Jasprit Bumrah, who leads India’s pace attack in the opening game.
Playing XIs
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (w), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Philippe, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (w), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
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