Criticism for Assistant Coach Over Remarks on Nitish Kumar Reddy
The Indian cricket team’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, faced significant backlash for his recent comments regarding all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. After India’s disappointing performance in the second ODI against New Zealand, ten Doeschate suggested that Nitish had not made the most of his opportunities, leading to strong reactions from fans and former players alike.
In the match held in Rajkot, India struggled with both bat and ball, ultimately losing to a relatively inexperienced New Zealand side by seven wickets. Nitish, who filled in for the injured Washington Sundar, managed to score 20 runs off 21 balls and bowled only two overs, conceding 13 runs.
Following the defeat, ten Doeschate expressed frustration at Nitish’s performance during the post-match press conference. He noted, “We talk about developing Nitish and giving him game time, but when he gets that time, he often doesn’t produce the results we hope for.”
He emphasized that Nitish missed a critical opportunity to showcase his skills, especially in the context of batting at a crucial moment. The comments did not sit well with many in the cricketing community. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra was particularly vocal, pointing out that Nitish had limited chances to bat and bowl effectively due to his position in the batting order.
“Batting at number seven restricts his opportunities, and he seldom gets to bowl. It’s tough for young players to shine without consistent chances,” Chopra explained.
Since his impressive debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25, Nitish has only played three ODIs, bowled a mere seven overs, and faced criticism for being underutilized, especially after only being allowed to bowl ten overs in the recent Test series against the West Indies. One social media user questioned the assistant coach for failing to support Nitish properly while still blaming him for not meeting expectations.
Robin Uthappa, another former India player, also weighed in, urging patience before passing judgment on Nitish. He noted the challenges of being an all-rounder and highlighted that even successful players like Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya took time to develop their skills.
“It’s not easy to master both batting and bowling. Nitish deserves more time to pave his way in international cricket,” Uthappa stated.
Looking ahead, India will compete in their third and final ODI against New Zealand on January 18, before transitioning to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 with a five-match series against the same team.
