Nitish Reddy: Withdrawn from Asian Games squad in favour of West Indies ODIs
Promising all-rounder Nitish Reddy has been officially withdrawn from India’s upcoming Asian Games campaign to prioritize his integration into the national setup for the West Indies ODIs. The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced this strategic shift as selectors finalized multiple squads on Wednesday, balancing upcoming multi-sport commitments with core bilateral fixtures against the visiting West Indies side.
The selection committee meeting, held in Mumbai, also addressed several key player movements across formats. Alongside the decision regarding Nitish Reddy, the BCCI named squads featuring high-profile returns and leadership assignments, including Rishabh Pant appointed to lead the Rest of India team for the Irani Cup. Meanwhile, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been confirmed fit for selection, while Varun Chakaravarthy was ruled out of both the Japan T20I and Asian Games fixtures due to an ongoing side strain.
This squad finalization follows intense discussions among selectors regarding player workloads, fitness assessments, and international readiness. While players like Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant faced heavy scrutiny regarding their white-ball comebacks, management opted to redirect rising talents based on immediate team requirements. Nitish Reddy will now focus on the bilateral one-day series rather than traveling for the continental multi-sport event in Asia.
The broader squad announcements also saw notable exclusions and inclusions as India prepares for a busy international calendar. With physical evaluations conducted by the national cricket physios ruling out certain names like Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy due to injuries, selectors prioritized fully fit personnel for the West Indies series and domestic red-ball matches alike, setting a definitive template for upcoming global and regional fixtures.
