New Delhi, Oct 8 (NationPress) India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has emphasized the team’s commitment to investing in seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, referring to him as a ‘quality all-rounder’ whose growth is pivotal to the squad’s medium-term strategy.

Returning to the lineup following a knee injury that interrupted his tour of England, Reddy had a limited impact in India’s decisive win over the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs in Ahmedabad—bowling just four overs in the first innings and not having the opportunity to bowl in the second. With India declaring their first innings at 448/5, Reddy also missed the chance to bat.

Although ten Doeschate suggested that the conditions might not favor a seam-heavy attack in New Delhi, particularly with bright sunshine expected to dry out the moisture at the Arun Jaitley Stadium after two days of rain due to a western disturbance, he firmly stated that Reddy will remain in the playing eleven.

"It’s too soon to assess the pitch based on our observations today. The surface appears very dry and patchy, so we don’t anticipate it aiding seam bowlers, which isn't surprising for Delhi. I would say we are unlikely to alter the combination,” he remarked.

"A medium-term goal is to cultivate a seam-bowling all-rounder. The group needs to significantly improve in this area. If we have that position solidified, we can enhance our chances, as Reddy didn’t get much action last week. This situation presents a great opportunity for him to gain match experience while maintaining balance in the eleven,” ten Doeschate noted during the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

To date, Reddy has participated in eight Tests, having been fast-tracked for his rare skill set. While ten Doeschate praised him, he acknowledged the physical demands of the role as a significant challenge, highlighting the need for ample match time to ensure long-term sustainability.

“We believe he’s an exceptional seam-bowling all-rounder—a batter who bowls seam. I think the largest limitation to his potential will be his physical condition. He’s not the first all-rounder we’ve encountered in this nation, particularly over the last couple of years. Let’s be honest—Hardik is a similar type of player. We have no doubts about their skills, but sustaining their bodies to compete in Test cricket is another matter,” he explained.

“Reddy demonstrated his batting prowess in Australia. The key challenge for him will be ensuring he gets sufficient game time between away series and home series like this, where we must consider the combinations. It’s crucial to integrate him to ensure he gains bowling experience. However, the bottom line is that we value him highly and regard him as a quality all-rounder,” he added.

Reddy began his Test career batting at number six, but batting at number eight in Ahmedabad was a low position for someone with a Test century to his name. Ten Doeschate expressed disappointment that Reddy wasn’t able to bat higher up the order, viewing it as a reflection of the competition for lower-order batting roles.

“Fortunately for us, Washi, Jaddu, and even Axar are quite similar in terms of skill sets. If they’re in the lineup, they are more likely to contribute significantly. Recently, Washi has delivered crucial runs in the UK, and Jaddu has been in outstanding form over the past six months. Unfortunately, this means that when Reddy returned to the squad after his injury, it explains why he is batting so low in the order,” he said.

“As I mentioned, the only downside from last week was that Reddy didn’t get to fulfill any requirements. However, it sends a strong message to our squad that versatility is essential. Players must be capable of batting anywhere from five to eight,” ten Doeschate concluded.