New Delhi, Oct 9 (NationPress) India captain Shubman Gill highlighted the necessity of nurturing seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in familiar home conditions, asserting that providing him with match exposure domestically serves as effective preparation for international tours.

Ensuring Reddy has ample chances to play an all-round role in the upcoming second Test, which kicks off at the Arun Jaitley Stadium this Friday, is a key objective for India. In the first Test held in Ahmedabad, he bowled only four overs in the initial innings and did not get an additional opportunity to bowl or bat, as India declared their innings at 448/5.

The Indian team management acknowledges that Reddy's ultimate value lies in conditions that favor pace overseas. However, they also recognize that his growth must start with consistent red-ball cricket at home to maintain his rhythm before India's forthcoming tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand in 2026.

Throughout his eight Tests, Reddy has exhibited flashes of his all-round capabilities, including vital scores of 41, 42, and 42, culminating in his maiden Test century at the MCG during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. Although his bowling is still developing, he has successfully dismissed top-order batsmen in both Australia and England.

“Indeed, there have been discussions about this, particularly when we play overseas, as we often face challenges with a third or fourth seam bowling option on pitches that support fast bowlers. It would be unfair to only deploy him overseas since that limits his opportunities, especially with not many matches scheduled outside India in the upcoming year and a half,” Gill stated during the pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“Thus, we aim to have a player who can bowl 10-15 overs in a day and can also bat. We have seen his batting capabilities in Australia; there's significant potential in him. We plan to provide him with as much game time as possible in India. Depending on the match situation, we’ll adjust his batting position accordingly,” Gill added.

Gill also offered a realistic perspective on whether Prasidh Krishna would feature in the second Test. “If an opportunity arises for him, we would definitely consider playing him. For now, we want to field our strongest team because winning the WTC requires a high success rate to qualify for the finals,” he explained.

Despite expectations that spinners will dominate on dry surfaces like those anticipated in New Delhi, Gill expressed his commitment to creating chances for fast bowlers, even in less favorable conditions.

“I focus on identifying the best options for our team in each situation. For instance, after lunch in the second innings, I handed the ball to Bumrah and Siraj with hopes of some reverse swing. Starting with spinners might be an easier choice, but I wanted to explore the potential for wicket-taking in various scenarios,” he remarked.

Another player drawing attention ahead of the second Test is left-handed batter B Sai Sudharsan, who, despite a promising start to his Test career, has faced inconsistency of late. In Ahmedabad, he was the only top-six batter dismissed for a single-digit score, falling to lbw for seven while attempting to play a shot against Roston Chase. However, Gill remains optimistic about Sudharsan's future in the number three spot.

“I wouldn’t categorize his performance as a lean run. In the first match at the Oval, he played a critical innings of 40 runs on a swinging wicket, and before that, he scored a fifty in Manchester. It’s unrealistic for everyone to score a fifty in every match,” Gill asserted.

“Young players need more opportunities as they develop their game. We must assess potential over a series of matches, not just one or two. After giving someone enough chances—around 6-7-8 matches—we can evaluate their progress and determine if they need more domestic play or India A matches. Currently, we believe he is our future at number three,” he concluded.

He also praised vice-captain and veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, saying, “Having someone like him is a significant advantage for us. In Test matches, he can bat at number six, and we've witnessed his exceptional skills on spinning tracks.”

“That’s why he’s ranked as the world's top all-rounder. We’re fortunate to have him on our team. His fielding is impressive; we’ve seen batsmen hesitant to take runs off his throws,” Gill remarked.