There is a bit more of a plan to India’s white-ball set-up these days. Ryan ten Doeschate, the assistant coach, has made no bones about it: Reddy is the one to have behind Hardik. It’s a move that puts some mind at ease after yet another niggling injury saw Pandya miss out on the Afghanistan ODIs.
Why this makes a difference to India’s ODI make-up
Hardik has always been something of a unique asset in the Indian side – you get a finisher and a bowler in the same player. Ten Doeschate was on it: “Most of our lads are bowling all-rounders, but when Hardik is right, he gives you something else because of how hard he batters and finishes.” You had the old question mark come up again when a quad issue kept him away from the Afghanistan series. What you need is an all-rounder with a seamer’s arm who can also add runs. Backing Reddy is where the team is finding its footing for the time being.
Reddy’s way up and why it’s making sense
It hasn’t been much of a media build-up for Reddy; he’s put in the work. “In the 18 months or so he’s been with us, you’ve seen what he can be for this group,” was Ten Doeschate’s view, and he has put in some good miles and pace lately. The 23-year-old has had to step up whenever there’s been a void left by Pandya. His reaction to putting down Mohammad Nabi back in June 2026 was typical of a young man in his element, but the staff are looking at the longer game.
More than just a backup: it’s not a zero-sum
We’re not talking pitting a star down against a reserve. Even if the numbers get tight when Hardik is 100 per cent, Ten Doeschate sees the value in having a few of these types in the mix. You want to be able to turn and run, particularly for the kind of wickets in South Africa. If and when Pandya is over the line, then maybe it’s down to what role you can fill. The word from the room is to have your options open.
And then there’s the rest of the side and the SA factor
They have been bold with their picks. Harshit Rana has been put in at No 8 in the last couple of tours to South Africa and New Zealand and even chipped in with a half-century. Then you have Gurnoor Brar coming in for the Afghanistan job, another seamer with a bat in hand. Ten Doeschate is keeping a lid on things. He will tell you a lot of the names are bowling all-rounders and you need some sturdiness in the lower order – someone to see off the tail when you have three pure seamers in the XI. This is the way the staff are seeing it: – A finisher with a seamer’s action – A No.9 who can back up the three seamers – Set the roles for conditions like you get in South Africa
14-15 months to the 2027 showpiece
Everything is geared towards the World Cup across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The next 14-15 months is the time to put some pressure on the boys and put the final pieces in place.
Ten Doeschate said it was nice to be out in the middle with Prince, Gurnoor and Nabi this week, to get a read on them without the usual noise around the big names.
What to look for
Don’t be surprised to see Reddy put in his time in the bilateral ODIs as they figure things out. They are of the mind he is the one to have for the World Cup next year. So for the moment, the selectors have an eye on two things: how Hardik recovers and how Reddy is shaping up. If the former is back to his best, fine. If not, they are covered.
