Suryansh Shedge gets maiden India call-up as Nitish Reddy ruled out of Ireland, England T20Is
Synopsis
India's seam-bowling all-round cover is stretched thin. With Hardik Pandya already out and now Nitish Reddy ruled out with a quadriceps injury, the selectors have turned to 23-year-old Suryansh Shedge — a player who scored 131 runs at a strike rate of 251.92 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and followed it up with a strong India A showing. It is a high-stakes debut opportunity on a full UK tour.
Key Takeaways
Suryansh Shedge , 23, has received his maiden senior India call-up as a replacement for Nitish Kumar Reddy .
Nitish Reddy sustained left quadriceps discomfort during the third ODI against Afghanistan on 20 June and is ruled out of both T20I series.
Hardik Pandya is also unavailable, still recovering from an IPL 2026 injury, leaving India's seam-bowling all-round options severely depleted.
Shedge scored 147 runs in five matches and bowled 23 overs for India A in the Sri Lanka tri-series title win.
He also posted 131 runs at a strike rate of 251.92 in Mumbai's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign in 2024-25 .
India face two T20Is in Belfast against Ireland followed by five T20Is and three ODIs against England .
Suryansh Shedge, the 23-year-old Mumbai all-rounder, has received his maiden senior India call-up after Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England due to a left quadriceps injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the replacement on 23 June, citing a medical assessment that recommended a period of rehabilitation for the Andhra Pradesh all-rounder.
How Nitish Reddy Got Injured
Nitish Kumar Reddy sustained left quadriceps discomfort during India's third ODI against Afghanistan on 20 June. A subsequent evaluation by the BCCI Medical Team determined he would be unavailable for both the Ireland and England T20I assignments.
'The Men's Selection Committee has named Suryansh Shedge as a replacement for Nitish Kumar Reddy in India's squads for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England. Nitish reported left quadriceps discomfort after the third ODI against Afghanistan on June 20. Following a subsequent medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team has recommended a period of rehabilitation, ruling him out of both T20I series,' the board said in a statement.
Why the Absence Hurts India
Nitish's injury compounds an already thin seam-bowling all-round department. Hardik Pandya remains sidelined, still recovering from the injury he suffered during IPL 2026. Nitish was the only seam-bowling all-rounder in India's ODI squad and one of only two in the T20I setup, meaning his absence leaves a significant gap in the side's balance heading into a demanding white-ball tour of the UK.
Shedge's Domestic Record That Earned the Call
Shedge's promotion is backed by a consistent run of form across formats. He was a standout performer for India A in the recently concluded tri-series in Sri Lanka, scoring 147 runs in five matches while bowling 23 overs and claiming two wickets in the title-winning campaign.
The BCCI also pointed to his role in Mumbai's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph in the 2024-25 season, where he scored 131 runs at a strike rate of 251.92 batting in the lower middle order. A right-handed batter who bowls medium pace, Shedge first drew national attention through that explosive T20 campaign, which earned him a ₹30 lakh contract with Punjab Kings at the IPL 2025 auction.
IPL Record and Rise Through the Ranks
Shedge had previously been drafted into the IPL in 2023 as a replacement for Jaydev Unadkat at Lucknow Super Giants, though he did not feature that season. His breakthrough arrived with Punjab Kings, where he has since played across two IPL campaigns. In 17 innings, he has scored 165 runs at a strike rate of 163.36. His IPL 2026 season was particularly encouraging — 158 runs from seven innings at a strike rate of 175.55.
India's T20I Schedule Against Ireland and England
India will open their white-ball tour with two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast before moving to the UK for five T20Is and three ODIs against England. With both Hardik and Nitish unavailable, the onus on Shedge to fill a demanding dual role — middle-order batting and seam-bowling support — will be immediate and significant.
Point of View
The selectors have been forced to turn to a player with no senior international caps for a full UK white-ball tour. Shedge's numbers in domestic and India A cricket are encouraging, but deploying a debutant to fill a role that two established players could not cover raises questions about squad planning ahead of a high-stakes series. The BCCI's reliance on a thin pool of seam-bowling all-rounders has been an open concern since the 2024 T20 World Cup, and this episode makes that vulnerability impossible to ignore.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out of the Ireland and England T20I series?
Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out after sustaining left quadriceps discomfort during India's third ODI against Afghanistan on 20 June. A subsequent assessment by the BCCI Medical Team recommended a rehabilitation period, making him unavailable for both T20I series.
Who is Suryansh Shedge and why was he selected?
Suryansh Shedge is a 23-year-old Mumbai all-rounder who bats right-handed and bowls medium pace. He was selected on the back of 147 runs in five matches for India A in the Sri Lanka tri-series and a standout Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign in 2024-25, where he scored 131 runs at a strike rate of 251.92.
What is Suryansh Shedge's IPL record?
Shedge has scored 165 runs in 17 IPL innings at a strike rate of 163.36. His IPL 2026 season was his best, producing 158 runs from seven innings at a strike rate of 175.55 for Punjab Kings.
Which matches will India play against Ireland and England?
India are scheduled to play two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast, followed by five T20Is and three ODIs against England in the UK.
How does Nitish Reddy's absence affect India's squad balance?
Nitish Reddy was the only seam-bowling all-rounder in India's ODI squad and one of only two in the T20I setup. With Hardik Pandya also unavailable due to an IPL 2026 injury, India head into the UK tour without their two primary seam-bowling all-round options, placing extra responsibility on Shedge.
