Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is poised to rejoin the national squad in New Delhi this Thursday, September 10, pending final clearance from the Centre of Excellence (CoE). Reddy, 23, was one of four players named to the T20I series against Afghanistan on a conditional basis due to injury. Having spent the last six weeks undergoing intensive rehabilitation for a quadriceps issue, the Andhra cricketer has reportedly cleared his match-simulation assessments, which included participation in three matches over the past week.
A source close to the developments noted that the player is expected to receive the final all-clear from the medical team on Thursday, stating, “He should be fine and get the all-clear from the CoE tomorrow. Barring a last-minute twist, he should be joining the Indian team tomorrow.” During his time at the facility, Reddy focused heavily on his bowling mechanics and is understood to have increased his pace. He has not appeared in a T20I match for over 19 months, with his last international appearance occurring in an ODI against Afghanistan back in June.
Conversely, the outlook for Harshit Rana is negative, as he has been effectively ruled out of the upcoming series. While he was already managing a hamstring injury sustained during the third T20I against England in July, he has now suffered a fresh, undisclosed injury during his rehabilitation process at the CoE. His absence marks a significant blow to the team’s depth for the three-match series.
The status of the remaining conditional selections remains mixed. There is no immediate update regarding Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to undergo a fitness assessment on Thursday. Meanwhile, indications suggest that Washington Sundar is likely to receive the necessary medical clearance to participate in the matches against Afghanistan.