Ajinkya Rahane has expressed uncertainty over Hardik Pandya's comeback timeline as Nitish Kumar Reddy steps into the all-rounder role for the upcoming ODI series.
Ajinkya Rahane has raised concerns about Hardik Pandya's prolonged absence from international cricket, stating that the all-rounder's return timeline remains unclear. Hardik has been sidelined since the T20 World Cup final in March 2026 and has now been ruled out of the upcoming white-ball matches against New Zealand and the India A series against Australia A following a fresh shin injury. The West Indies ODI series, commencing September 27, will see Nitish Kumar Reddy in the role of a seam-bowling all-rounder.
Rahane addressed the challenge of replacing an all-rounder of Hardik's calibre while speaking ahead of the West Indies series. The veteran batter acknowledged both the difficulty of the situation and the opportunity it presents for a talented youngster like Reddy.
"It is important to have competition and it is good. The kind of all-rounder that Hardik is, it gets very difficult to fit in that role for any team. Unfortunately Hardik has been away for a long time due to injury. Nitish came back from injury and did well as a bowler in the last series," Rahane said in a video on his YouTube channel.
"It will be important for Nitish to forget what he did in the last series and look at being consistent. No one knows when Hardik will be back. Filling his role is very difficult. But Nitish has a good opportunity to prove himself as an all-rounder," he added.
Reddy's opportunity to prove himself as all-rounder
Nitish Kumar Reddy has been moved into the ODI squad for the West Indies series after being initially named in the Asian Games 2026 squad. The BCCI selection committee made a last-minute change to pull Reddy from the Asian Games contingent and add him to the white-ball squad against West Indies. Shubman Gill will captain the side, with KL Rahul serving as vice-captain for the three-match series.
Why Reddy and Hardik should not be compared
Reddy's recent performances have provided encouragement for his elevation to the ODI setup. The all-rounder impressed with the ball during the T20I series against Afghanistan, taking six wickets across three games. His return from injury and strong bowling display in that series demonstrated his readiness for the upcoming challenge against West Indies.
Rahane emphasised that Reddy and Hardik should not be compared directly, as both players bring different strengths to the team. The selection committee's decision to promote Reddy reflects confidence in his ability to contribute across both batting and bowling disciplines in the ODI format.
"There is no need to compare Hardik and Nitish as both are very different players with different skill sets. It will be a mistake if Nitish compares himself to Hardik. He has to bring in his game and his personality and back that," Rahane opined.