'Strategy comes first...': Ryan Ten Doeschate explains management's motives for Nitish Reddy in Test cricket
India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has revealed the management’s opinion on Nitish Reddy for Test cricket in the future.
Nitish Kumar Reddy (Image | BCCI on X)
Last Updated: 06.05 PM, Nov 12, 2025
The new Indian all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, is still garnering favorable comments from the cricket experts, and India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, went a step further to explain why the management is confident about the long-term prospects. Doeschate, having interacted closely with the Indian youngsters, pointed out the player's mental strength, versatility, and well-balanced technique as traits which Reddy could successfully transfer to the longer version of the game.
He didn't get much game time in Australia: Ryan ten Doeschate
Ryan ten Doeschate also pointed out that Reddy had made a breakthrough in limited-overs cricket but, in fact, his basic style of play was more suited to the requirements of Test cricket, a game in which one is expected to be patient, calm, and accurate even under pressure.
He also said that the management support is like a vote of confidence because it is believed that Reddy will gradually become a dependable middle-order batter and the team will benefit most of all in foreign settings where usually it is the temperament that counts rather than brilliance.
"In the West Indies series, Nitish played both Tests and we said it was important to groom him for the future. So yes, we do look at him as a potential player who is playing to learn. But I also said strategy comes first. The primary thing is to set out a strategy to win the game. If you can accommodate giving guys a chance for development, that comes in. Our position certainly hasn't changed on Nitish. He didn't get much game time in Australia. But given the importance of this series and the conditions we think we're going to face, he (Nitish Kumar Reddy) might miss out in this Test this week," Ten Doeschate said in the pre-match press conference.
Nitish Reddy’s battle with injuries and his road to recovery
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s road to success was laden with obstacles. The Andhra all-rounder was plagued by minor injuries over the last year which led him to be away from competitive matches for short periods of time. In the beginning of 2024, he got a minor shoulder injury during the domestic season and later a hamstring problem before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
However, Reddy never wavered in his commitment to a recovery plan supervised by the National Cricket Academy's physiotherapists. His recent restoration to full strength has been instrumental in his choosing for the red-ball squad. There are also some reports that suggest that the team management is closely keeping an eye on his workload so that he can be available most of the season.
How to watch the India vs South Africa Test series?
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