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Team India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav provided a promising update on injured all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy ahead of the series opener against Australia. The youngster sustained a left quadriceps injury, and was ruled out of the third ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday, October 25.
Team India have had to lean towards a contingency plan for the pace all-rounder slot after Hardik Pandya was ruled out due to an injury he suffered towards the end of the Asia Cup 2025 campaign. Nitish Kumar Reddy went on to make his ODI debut in the series opener in Perth, scoring a promising cameo in his first appearance in the format.
The BCCI did not name a replacement for the young all-rounder, indicating that he was set to recover in time for the T20I series. Furthermore, the T20I squad also includes another pace bowling all-rounder in Shivam Dube.
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During the pre-series press conference, Suryakumar Yadav stated that Nitish Kumar Reddy is recovering well, and has resumed training as well.
"I think he is doing fine. Yesterday he did a bit of running, and batting also in the nets. Today he wanted to take a break as it was an optional practice, but we came to the ground because we had a team meeting and wanted to stay with the group. He looks good," Suryakumar Yadav told reporters in Canberra (via RevSportz).
Team India have a massive selection conundrum regarding their bowling unit and team combination ahead of the first T20I. They had deployed Hardik Pandya as a new ball bowler throughout the 2025 Asia Cup, allowing them to field extra batting depth and spinners. However, in his absence, Shivam Dube took on the new ball duties, a strategy which Suryakumar Yadav does not rule out in Australia as well.
"No, no, I don't put pressure on anyone. He knows how these conditions are, and how to bowl here. He has been working really hard on his bowling, and that is why I gave him those overs in the Asia Cup Final. I've been playing with him for the last 8-10 years, toh mujhe pata thha ladka kitna paani mei hai. If there is an opportunity tomorrow, then why not? If he gets to bowl against a quality team (like Australia), his confidence will grow," Suryakumar Yadav said.
Team India have three frontline pacers in the squad in the form of the returning Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana.
"I think that is long gone now" - Suryakumar Yadav on starting afresh after 2025 Asia Cup triumph
Suryakumar Yadav emphasized the importance of continuing the build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup, but without the momentum of their 2025 Asia Cup triumph in September. Since then, India have played a two-match home Test series against the West Indies, as well as a three-match ODI series against Australia.
"I think that is long gone now; it has been a month, more than a month. The team looks good, the atmosphere is good, we had good fun on the ground in the last 2 days, so really looking forward to this," the skipper added.
The first T20I between India and Australia will take place at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, October 29.
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