India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed on 19 June that the team has earmarked Nitish Kumar Reddy as the natural successor to Hardik Pandya in the seam-bowling all-rounder role, revealing that the Andhra Pradesh youngster has been deliberately developed over the past 18 months with next year's ICC Champions Trophy and World Cup cycle firmly in view. The comments came at a pre-match press conference ahead of the third ODI against Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Ten Doeschate on Reddy's Growing Role

Reddy missed the second ODI in Lucknow with soreness in his left thigh but is expected to return for Saturday's decider. Ten Doeschate was unambiguous about the 21-year-old's trajectory. 'When Hardik's fit, he obviously brings a different element because he's such a strong batter, such a strong finisher. That sort of role scarcity is difficult to find — a finisher who can give you overs as well,' the coach said.

'I feel his body's getting stronger and stronger, and I sort of feel he is the natural successor or back-up to Hardik,' ten Doeschate added, underscoring that Reddy's development has been a deliberate, long-term project rather than an emergency fix.

Harshit Rana and Gurnoor Brar Also in the Frame

India have also been trialling Harshit Rana and Gurnoor Brar as lower-order batting options alongside their primary bowling duties. Ten Doeschate was careful to frame them as bowling all-rounders first. 'The majority of those guys are bowling all-rounders. But the fact that we feel we've got guys who can hold the bat at No. 9 — looking forward to the next 14-15 months, that is going to be very important, especially in South Africa when you want to play three proper out-and-out seamers,' he said.

He also highlighted the performances of Prince and Nabi during the week, calling it 'refreshing' to see the fast-bowling options developing in tandem with the all-rounder pool.

Changes Confirmed for Chennai ODI

With India having already sealed the series, ten Doeschate confirmed the squad will be rotated. 'We will be making a few changes from the first two games. Part of the brief coming into this series was that we wanted to try a few different combinations and give everyone a fair share of games. If someone like Arshdeep does very well in the first two games, he can take a rest tomorrow,' he said.

The coach indicated the top three is likely to remain intact — Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening, with Shubman Gill at number three. He added that KL Rahul would not bat at No. 3 in Chennai, and that Jaiswal, who did not get to bat in the second ODI, would get another opportunity. The projected batting unit for Chennai is five recognised batters plus Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar.

Ishan Kishan's Versatility Praised

Ten Doeschate also lauded Ishan Kishan following his century in Lucknow, saying the wicketkeeper-batter had answered questions about his adaptability to the 50-over format. 'The only concern was whether he transforms himself from a T20 specialist into a 50-over player, potentially even a red-ball player. I think he showed that the other night,' the coach said.

He described Kishan as 'very versatile' — capable of batting at the top of the order or in the middle — and said his glovework made him a multi-dimensional asset. With Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli providing classical anchor options, the team can afford Kishan's aggressive approach, ten Doeschate noted.

What This Means for India's World Cup Planning

The comments collectively paint a picture of a side using the Afghanistan series as a structured audition rather than a routine assignment. The focus on lower-order batting depth, the explicit grooming of a Pandya backup, and the rotation policy all point toward a squad-building exercise calibrated to conditions in South Africa, where India are expected to rely on a three-seamer attack. How Reddy, Rana, and Brar perform in the remaining matches will likely shape the squad conversation heading into the next major assignment.