Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has praised Nitish Kumar Reddy as the ideal replacement for Hardik Pandya in Test cricket. Reddy, an all-rounder from Andhra Pradesh, has showcased his talent in the ongoing Test series against Australia, notably scoring his maiden century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). His innings of 114 runs played a crucial role in helping India avoid a follow-on during a challenging first innings, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure.

In his column, Gavaskar emphasized that Reddy’s batting skills currently surpass those of Pandya at a similar stage in their careers. He noted that Reddy has effectively filled the gap left by Pandya's absence from red-ball cricket due to injury. Gavaskar highlighted Reddy’s adaptability and 

cricketing acumen, evident from his debut performance in Perth, where he displayed maturity and tactical awareness.

Pandya was once considered India’s leading all-format all-rounder but has been sidelined from Test matches due to injury concerns. Since then, finding a suitable replacement has been challenging for the team. With Reddy’s emergence, it appears that India may have finally found a long-term solution. Gavaskar expressed optimism about Reddy’s future contributions to Indian cricket, provided he remains grounded and acknowledges the sacrifices made by his family to support his cricketing aspirations.