Team India has suffered a setback ahead of the T20 series against Australia, as promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the first three matches due to injury. Although Reddy is known for his talent, fitness issues continue to trouble him.

During the second ODI against Australia, Nitish injured his left quadriceps muscle, and later developed neck stiffness, further delaying his recovery. The BCCI medical team is keeping a close watch on his condition.

Had Reddy been fit, he could have played a vital role for Team India with both bat and ball. The 22-year-old all-rounder has so far scored 90 runs in T20 Internationals at an impressive average of 45 and a strike rate exceeding 180, along with three wickets to his name.

For now, Shivam Dube has taken his place in the squad as a batting all-rounder, ensuring balance in the lineup.

BCCI confirms Reddy’s unavailability
In an official update, the BCCI stated that Nitish Kumar Reddy, who sustained a left quadriceps injury during the second ODI in Adelaide, complained of neck spasms that have affected his recovery and mobility. As a result, he has been ruled out of the first three T20Is.

India’s playing XI for Canberra T20
In the first T20 match held in Canberra, Australia won the toss and elected to field first. Notably, Team India once again left out Arshdeep Singh, opting instead for Harshit Rana. Despite the fast pitch conditions, India went with three spinners — Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy — while Shivam Dube was included as the sixth bowling option.

India’s Playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.