Rohit Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy are under the radar as the Indian coach admits that they have been handed enough opportunities but have failed to deliver the desired impact. Ravindra Jadeja was spared the heat by Gautam Gambhir‘s ally.
India lost the second ODI against New Zealand after they failed to defend the total of 284, which was set following KL Rahul’s single-handed effort. However, some players from the Indian contingent have found themselves under the radar after the loss.
The likes of Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rohit Sharma are some of the names who have been charged with blame for the loss in the 2nd ODI against New Zealand. Reddy has been the constant target, and now the Indian assistant coach has also admitted his lack of performing anything special for the team.
“He often ends up not doing a heck of a lot in the games,” the Indian coach hints at Nitish Kumar Reddy’s possible ODI snub
Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has failed to produce an impact every time he has been handed an opportunity to feature for India in limited-overs cricket.
After Nitish Reddy was dismissed for an almost run-a-ball 20 and could not pick any wickets in the two overs he played in the match, the assistant coach remarked that despite making all efforts to develop his skillset, Nitish Reddy has disappointed whenever he has been handed gametime, as he “ends up not doing a heck of a lot in the games.”
“For someone who’s making their way, particularly with the bat tonight (Wednesday), it was that perfect chance where you’re walking in that situation, and you’ve got a chance to spend 15 overs at the wicket. You really have to take those chances to push your case to be selected,” the former Dutch player added.
He also revealed that India, at the back of their mind, have preferred playing with three spinners, as a result of which Ayush Badoni was backed instead of any other batter as a replacement for Washington Sundar.
“Looking at the way the New Zealand spinners bowled, we could have done (it) with another spinner,” ten Doeschate opined.
Rohit Sharma has not been as fluent as he has been – Ryan ten Doeschate
He next gave his valuable opinion on the Indian superstar opener Rohit Sharma, who returned to domestic cricket to allow a continuation between series gaps, but despite that, the assistant coach feels that he has been left short of cricket.
“Rohit Sharma, I thought tonight, particularly, both innings were a real new-ball wicket. It didn’t look easy to bat. Over a short period of time, if you take the first ODI, he’s (Rohit Sharma) not been as fluent as he has been, and that’s going to be a challenge for him, not playing cricket between series,” ten Doeschate said.
When asked whether Rohit Sharma has changed his approach to the game after being removed from captaincy and after being handed the ultimatum to keep up with his form to retain a place in the XI, the India coach said he doesn’t think so.
“He’s definitely not the sort of guy to play for himself. It’s just a combination of the wickets being slightly difficult and maybe just being a little bit short on cricket leading into the series,” he added.
Indian assistant coach looks positive on KL Rahul and backs veteran Ravindra Jadeja
After KL Rahul’s masterclass of an innings in Rajkot, which was under such circumstances when half of the team had been sent back to the pavilion, it was worthy of some praise from the Indian coach Ryan ten Doeschate.
With a special mention, he said that with the kind of form Rahul has shown in the middle order, he is most likely to continue in the no. 5 position and will be followed by all-rounders. Hence, no other all-rounder like Washington or Axar Patel will be promoted above Rahul in the batting order.
Defending Ravindra Jadeja’s awful recent stats, especially with the ball in ODI cricket, Ryan ten Doeschate said, “I don’t think he’s feeling the heat. His stats are crazy, and he’s probably been a bit light on wickets of late.”
“But it’s not a concern. The things we’ve looked at in terms of his pace that he’s bowling and the things we’ve asked him to work on, I feel like he is actually bowling better. So, hopefully the wickets will follow with a bit of a lag,” he added.
