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Nitish Reddy Ruled Out of England ODIs: Selectors Turn to Mumbai All-Rounder Shivam Dube for Surprise Return…
With Nitish Reddy’s injury setback ruling him out of the upcoming ODI series against England, the Indian selectors have handed an opportunity to Shivam Dube, who returns to the 50-over setup after a long absence.
The Indian cricket team has been forced into a late squad adjustment ahead of its much-anticipated ODI series against England, with promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy officially ruled out due to injury.
In a significant selection move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has drafted Shivam Dube into the ODI squad. The Mumbai-based all-rounder, who is already part of India’s T20I setup, will now get another opportunity to prove his worth in the 50-over format.
The development comes as a setback for Reddy, who has been sidelined since suffering a left quadricep injury during the third ODI against Afghanistan. The injury halted what was shaping up to be an important phase in the youngster’s international career.
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Why Nitish Reddy Is Missing the England Series
Following the injury, Reddy has not returned to competitive cricket and has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE). Medical experts had initially hoped for a return by July, but the upcoming England series has reportedly come too soon for the all-rounder.
There were expectations that Reddy could make a comeback during India’s limited-overs assignments later in the season, but the team management has decided not to rush his recovery.
In his absence, Suryansh Shedge has continued to remain in contention in the T20I setup, while Dube has now earned the ODI call-up.
A Fresh Chance for Shivam Dube
For Shivam Dube, the selection offers a chance to revive an ODI career that has largely remained in the shadows despite his success in T20 cricket.
The hard-hitting all-rounder last represented India in an ODI against Sri Lanka on August 7, 2024, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Since making his ODI debut against the West Indies in December 2019, Dube has played only four matches in the format.
His ODI numbers may not be eye-catching, having scored 43 runs in four innings with a highest score of 25, but selectors appear to value his ability to contribute with both bat and ball.
India’s All-Rounder Depth Tested
India’s all-rounder resources have already been stretched, with senior star Hardik Pandya also unavailable as he continues his rehabilitation program at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
With Pandya and Reddy both out of contention, Dube’s inclusion strengthens India’s balance and provides another seam-bowling option in the middle order.
The upcoming ODI series against England is expected to be a crucial test for several players hoping to cement their places in India’s long-term plans. For Dube, it could be an opportunity to show that he is more than just a T20 specialist.
As the countdown to the England series continues, all eyes will now be on the Mumbai all-rounder and whether he can make the most of an unexpected second chance in India’s ODI colours.
