3 reasons why India must play Nitish Kumar Reddy in IND vs SA 2025 2nd Test 

Team India finds itself in a precarious position heading into the second Test against South Africa, which starts in Guwahati on November 22. The hosts suffered a shocking 30-run defeat in the series opener at Kolkata, thanks to a dismal batting performance in both innings.

Having dominated in home Tests, with no series defeats for over a decade from 2013 to the middle of 2024, India are on the brink of a second home series defeat in just over a year. Meanwhile, batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has rejoined the squad after being released for the opening game.

Much was discussed about India's selection in the Kolkata encounter during and after the game. While some questioned the batting order, others zeroed in on the bowling attack.

While Nitish's inclusion may not be the ultimate solution that solves everything for India, his inclusion could help resolve issues that plagued them in the opening Test.

Entering a must-win Test in Guwahati, here are three key reasons why India must play Nitish Kumar Reddy.

#1 India desperately need a right-hander in the middle-order after Simon Harmer's demolition job

If off-spinner Simon Harmer was the least of India and their fans' concerns entering the first Test, three days later, he became the No. 1 nightmare for the Guwahati encounter. The veteran picked up four wickets in both innings to wreck India's batting lineup.

However, the hosts also made it slightly easier for the off-spinner to run through them by stacking their middle-order predominantly with left-handers. With Shubman Gill batting only three deliveries throughout the match due to a neck spasm, the home side had five left-handers to only one right-hander from No. 3 to 9.

While Harmer did remove Jurel in both innings, his other six wickets were southpaws. Even part-time off-spinner Aiden Markram picked up his lone wicket against a left-hander in Washington Sundar in the second innings.

If not for anything else, to break the monotony in the middle-order, Team India must bat Nitish Kumar Reddy in one of the positions from No. 3 to 8. Furthermore, their other two reserve batters, Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, are also left-handers, making Nitish the lone realistic choice as Gill's replacement, should the skipper miss the series finale.

#2 Nitish Reddy's inclusion brings more balance to the bowling attack on an unknown Guwahati track

If India playing four spinners and only two spinners was fraught with risk in Kolkata, it only multiplies in Guwahati. The second Test will be the first red-ball international game played at the venue, leaving the nature of the pitch anybody's guess.

The recently concluded Women's World Cup saw both pacers and spinners enjoy success. However, the memory of South African pacer Marizanne Kapp running through England in the latest game at the venue must tempt the team management to play a third seamer in Nitish Kumar Reddy.

With the pitches traditionally assisting the pacers in the North-Eastern parts of the country, Nitish's skillset could be more valuable than a fourth spinner, who will almost certainly be underbowled.

A three-pacer-three-spinner bowling attack should be the way to go on any track, but more so in an unknown Guwahati track. As crucial as Axar Patel and Washington Sundar's runs were in the first Test, the duo combined for only two wickets across as many innings, with the latter bowling only a lone over.

With Jadeja already a sure-starter in the lineup, India could do with the variety Nitish offers over a second left-hander in Axar.

#3 India must maintain continuity with foresight for Nitish Kumar Reddy's rare skillset

Certain positions in Indian cricket must be indispensable, especially in Tests, and none more so than the pace-bowling all-rounder. With the absence of Hardik Pandya in the red-ball format, Team India waited for years to find a seemingly bona fide batter with the ability to create an impact with medium-pace bowling.

However, the 22-year-old being in and out of the Test playing XI from the get-go will neither benefit the player nor the side in the long run. A century in Australia and eight combined wickets in Australia and England don't happen overnight, and Nitish has achieved both in his eight-Test career.

The youngster must be treated as a specialist batter, who seldom gets excluded from the 11, regardless of the playing surface. Only in Nitish's case, he also offers plenty with the ball, should he be given more consistent opportunities, which amplifies his case as an automatic selection.

With a crucial New Zealand Test tour that could make or break India's World Test Championship (WTC) final chances, the team management must make Nitish Kumar Reddy one of the ever-present names in the Test 11.