India want Nitish Kumar Reddy to compliment Hardik Pandya: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra feels that Nitish Kumar Reddy is being fast tracked by India to be an all-rounder who would Hardik Pandya in the team. Nitish was the star of the show in India's thumping win in the 2nd T20I.

In Short

• Nitish scored 74 and picked up 2 wickets
• Chopra feels Nitish being chances to be someone to compliment Hardik
• Chopra said it was a decisive effort by India to make Nitish do well

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that India is trying to fast track Nitish Kumar Reddy as an all-rounder who can compliment Hardik Pandya during matches. Nitish was the star of the show for India as they thumped Bangladesh by 86 runs in the 2nd T20I in Delhi on October 9, Wednesday.

The all-rounder scored 74 off 34 balls and picked up 2 for 23 in his 4 overs to be adjudged as the Player Of The Match in Delhi. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said that Nitish was made to bat at No.4 ahead of the likes of Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh as India wanted him to be someone who would stand shoulder to shoulder with Hardik in the all-rounders department.

"I would say this match was dedicated to Nitish Kumar Reddy. What was being tried? He was made to bat at No. 4. You get a chance to leave a good impression at No. 4. You don't get that number quickly. Riyan Parag or Rinku Singh could have got that number but the captain and coach asked Nitish Kumar Reddy to go there because they are fast-tracking him," said Chopra.

"They want an all-rounder who doesn't replace Hardik but can at least stand shoulder to shoulder with him so that he can be available when required. For that, he needed to perform well and you had to give him the position where he could have performed well."

Decisive effort to get Nitish to do well

Chopra then pointed out the bowling side of things and showed how Nitish was asked to bowl upfront like Hardik and then deliver in the back end as well. The former cricketer said it was a decisive effort from the team to get Nitish to do well.

"After that, bowling. They got Hardik Pandya to bowl with the new ball in the first match. They asked Nitish to bowl two overs at the start here. He didn't get a wicket - no issues. He was asked to come later and bowl the 18th and 20th overs. He would definitely get wickets there. It was like a decisive effort that they had to get Nitish Kumar Reddy to do well," said Chopra.

Nitish and India will now head to Hyderabad for the final match of the series on October 12.