"Nitish Kumar Reddy had featured in even lesser" - Aakash Chopra's massive claim on team selection after India's whitewash in IND vs SA 2025 Tests

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has stressed the need to change the basis of player selection in Test cricket after a humiliating 2-0 series defeat to South Africa. The former cricketer feels players are fast-tracked into Test cricket, highlighting how the likes of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Dhruv Jurel were given opportunities without playing a lot in the domestic circuit.

Reddy, the seam-bowling all-rounder, showed promising signs during the tour of Australia when he scored a ton in Melbourne. However, he has been in and out of the side ever since, with little clarity on his role. India's batting crumbled in epic proportions against South Africa, with the likes of Reddy, Jurel, B Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal failing miserably.

Speaking in the recent video on his YouTube channel, Chopra claimed Devdutt Padikkal has been the best performer among those to have debuted recently, averaging 44.5 in 31 games before debuting in Test cricket but has not been given enough chances. He observed that selectors are handing out Test caps based on potential and white-ball exploits.

He said (6:07):

"If we look at the players who made their Test debut in recent years, Yashasvi Jaiswal had played 15 first-class games before making his first red-ball appearance for India. Shubman Gill had played around 20-22 matches. Sai Sudharsan (29) had played only for a limited number of games, while Nitish Kumar Reddy had featured in even lesser (23). Dhruv Jurel (15) and Devdutt Padikkal (31) too. Among these, Padikkal has been the best performer but he is not getting as many opportunities. But most of them have been given opportunities on potential, promise and their white-ball or IPL exploits."

The 48-year-old reckons a few can turn out like Jaiswal or Gill but most can crumble under pressure at the Test level without the requisite first-class experience. He elaborated (7:03):

"Some players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are ready for the big stage. But can everyone turn out to be like that? Some people can still flourish, they can turn out to be like Jaiswal and Gill. But you will realize that even they took time to find their feet, especially in tricky batting conditions. They are exceptions but are they fully ready? If you give players the time to do well in first-class cricket and do well for 3-4 seasons consecutively, they come well prepared. If not and the pressure mounts at the Test level, they don’t know what to do. It’s not their fault as they is not ready. Why can’t you understand they are not ready?"

In the same video, Chopra pointed out that the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma had to wait for a long time before making their Test debuts. He observed that the trio had made quite a lot of hundreds before being making their maiden Test appearance.

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"There will be a player who will come once in a while and he can be fast tracked into Test cricket" - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra. (Image Credits: Aakash Chopra X)

Chopra warned the selectors that fast-tracking players consistently into Test cricket without much first-class experience can backfire, adding (8:13):

"When you want to give someone a Test cap, please let them play 2-3 seasons and score runs or take wickets consistently in first-class cricket. Then take the decision to play them. There will be a player who will come once in a while and he can be fast tracked into Test cricket. If done that way consistently, the transition will only get tougher and tougher. If a player scores runs or takes wickets consistently, 7-8 players out of 10 should be given an opportunity in Test cricket."

India's next home series as part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle is scheduled in early 2027 against Australia.