Former India captain and ex-chief selector Kris Srikkanth unleashed a scathing critique of Nitish Kumar Reddy's selection as an all-rounder for the second Test against South Africa, questioning his credentials after the young player's underwhelming performance contributed to India's mounting struggles in the match. Speaking on his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka, Srikkanth remarked, "Who calls Nitish Reddy an all-rounder? Can anyone see his bowling and say he is an all-rounder?" Reddy, recalled to the XI after Shubman Gill's injury sidelined the skipper, managed just 10 runs in the first innings and bowled 10 wicketless overs at an economy rate over six, as India folded for 201 against South Africa's 489, conceding a 288-run lead.

Srikkanth, known for his blunt assessments, dismissed Reddy's breakout 98-ball ton against Australia at the MCG in December 2024 as an isolated fluke, invoking the proverb, "One swallow doesn't make a summer," to argue that consistency defines true all-rounders. "If Nitish Reddy is an all-rounder, then I am a great all-rounder," he quipped sarcastically before probing deeper: "Does he have movement? Pace? Is he some deadly batsman? Let's call a spade a spade." The 22-year-old from Andhra Pradesh, who debuted in ODIs last year and earned a white-ball recall amid Hardik Pandya's absences, has bowled sparingly in Tests—only 82 overs across 14 innings—lacking the impact expected from a fifth bowler in home conditions favoring spin.

The tirade extended to broader selection woes under head coach Gautam Gambhir, with Srikkanth questioning why proven left-arm spinner Axar Patel was snubbed in favor of Reddy and why specialist batter Sarfaraz Khan wasn't prioritized over what he termed an overhyped "so-called all-rounder." "How is Nitish in the ODI team also? What has he done? Is he the replacement for Hardik Pandya? Why not Axar Patel?" he fumed, echoing earlier criticisms of Gambhir's "trial and error" approach that has seen frequent debuts and positional shifts, including Washington Sundar dropping from No. 3 to No. 8. Srikkanth, a 1983 World Cup winner, emphasized consistency over experimentation, stating, "I don't care what Gambhir says. I have been a former captain and former chairman of selectors. I know what I'm talking about."

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As India teeters on the brink of a 0-2 home whitewash—their second in a year after New Zealand's 3-0 sweep—the 27/2 scoreline at stumps on Day 4 leaves them needing 522 more runs with eight wickets intact on a wearing pitch where South African spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer thrived. Reddy's inclusion, meant to bolster balance after Axar's axing, has instead fueled debates on whether Gambhir's all-rounder-heavy philosophy—prioritizing versatility over specialization—is costing India dearly in red-ball cricket, especially with the Sri Lanka tour looming in August 2026.

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