Why is Nitish Kumar Reddy Dropped From India's Playing XI For 1st Test vs England?

India and England have kicked off their new WTC Cycle with the first Test of the five-match series of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. Fans have been excited to see many young players in the squad, following the retirement of veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. One of those young names is Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has been impressive with his performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Reddy made a superb start to his Test career and has already left an impression with his high skill and talent. The all-rounder is also seen as the future of Indian cricket. But surprisingly, he is not part of India’s playing XI for the 1st Test against England at Headingley. Many fans are wondering why he has been left out. There can be three main reasons behind Nitish Kumar Reddy IND vs ENG 1st Test absence.

3 Reasons Why Nitish Kumar Reddy is Not Playing ENG vs IND 1st Test

Nitish Kumar Reddy is no doubt a rising star. He has shown great promise in the domestic circuit and also did well in Australia. But Test cricket demands consistency and all-round skills. This is not the end for Nitish. He is highly likely to get more chances in the remaining tour. With better form and more bowling practice, he can become a regular face in India’s Test side. For now, he will have to wait and keep working hard on his game.

1. Nitish Kumar Reddy - A Batting All-Rounder

Nitish Kumar Reddy is an all-rounder. But he is mostly known for his batting. He can serve as a great part-time bowler, but has not been regularly bowling long spells. In Test cricket, India often looks for pace-bowling all-rounders who can give more overs when needed. Someone like Shardul Thakur fits this role better right now, as he is likely to bat at No. 8.
In recent matches, Nitish was used more as a batter. His bowling was not tested much in long formats. This may have gone against him in the team selection. In a five-day game, a player who can bowl 12-15 overs a day is very useful. Right now, the Indian team needs a player who could support the pace attack for longer spells. Nitish’s current bowling form and style didn’t make him the best choice.

2. Poor performance in the IPL

Nitish Kumar Reddy had a tough season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. He couldn’t perform well with either bat or ball. His form was a big concern for the selectors. In modern cricket, even Test spots can be affected by white-ball performances, especially for young players.

In the IPL, Nitish looked out of rhythm. He struggled to score freely and did not make a big impact. His bowling also lacked control and pace, even though he didn't get the opportunity to bowl much. This poor form hurt his chances of being picked for the Test XI. Selectors prefer players who are confident and in good touch, especially when the series is big and against a strong side like England.

3. Shardul Thakur Preferred Over Nitish Kumar Reddy

One of the biggest reasons for Nitish Kumar Reddy not playing is the availability of Shardul Thakur. The Mumbai all-rounder has been in red-hot form in domestic cricket. He also played well in the IPL 2025 season. In the practice matches ahead of the Test series, Shardul bowled with great energy. He even took some important wickets and showed that he is ready for Test cricket again.

Ravi Shastri, the former India coach, also gave his opinion on the debate and said, “If I had to pick one between the two, I would go with Shardul. He offers more with the ball and can bat well too.” This shows the confidence the team has in Shardul right now.

Shardul’s ability to swing the ball, pick wickets, and bat in the lower order makes him a perfect fit for this Test. The team needed someone who could play the role of a third pacer and still add runs at number 7 or 8. Nitish, though talented, does not yet offer the same balance as Shardul does at this moment.

The IND vs ENG Test 2025 series is going to be crucial for both teams as they aim to make a good start to this series. While Reddy is not part of the first Test, he can be a key player for India in the upcoming matches.