Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised serious questions about whether the BCCI selectors and the Indian team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill, are working in sync. The former opener pointed to the puzzling case of rising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who, despite being picked regularly across formats, rarely gets game time — or even meaningful opportunities when he does play.

“Are selectors and coaches not aligned?”

In a video shared on his official X account, Chopra expressed concern that India’s selection and utilization of Nitish Reddy highlight a deeper misalignment between the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, and the coaching staff currently managing the team.

“Are selectors and coaching staff not aligned? I don’t understand what is going on with Nitish Reddy. He is selected in every format. When he plays, he does not bat and gets very few deliveries to bowl,” Chopra remarked.

Reddy has been part of India’s squads for multiple bilateral series across formats since his breakthrough during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia but remains confined largely to the bench.

“Selectors pick him, but where are the chances?”

Chopra further elaborated that Reddy’s selection for the South Africa tour, where conditions favoured seamers, was a missed opportunity. Despite his bowling ability and pace, the youngster didn’t feature prominently — a move that, according to Chopra, defies logic.

“In white-ball cricket, selectors are selecting him, but he is not getting any games. In the South Africa series, there was plenty of dew. Fast bowlers were being used, but still no Nitish Reddy,” he said.

The 22-year-old all-rounder has played only four T20Is and two ODIs so far, even though he’s been part of several squads for more than a year. His few chances in international cricket have been sporadic and often devoid of opportunities to showcase his all-round potential.

Potential Hardik Pandya successor ignored?

Chopra highlighted that Reddy was seemingly being groomed as a long-term backup to Hardik Pandya, but a lack of playing opportunities has stunted that progression.

“Why do selectors think that Nitish Reddy provides a balance to the team and want to prepare him for the future in case Hardik Pandya gets injured, but the team management doesn’t think the same? What exactly is going on? If he has to sit outside, it’s better he plays the Vijay Hazare Trophy,” Chopra argued.

The comment underscores a growing theory that the national selectors’ vision for grooming future talent isn’t being implemented on the ground by the Gambhir-led management.

Reddy’s form and current position

Reddy burst onto the scene during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with impactful performances in tough conditions Down Under. However, his international opportunities dwindled soon after, and his performances in Tests and limited-overs games since then have been limited by lack of continuity.

Despite being touted as one of India’s next-generation pace-bowling all-rounders, similar to Pandya, the young Andhra Pradesh cricketer has struggled to cement his place — not because of form, but because of limited exposure.

Chopra’s public remarks have reignited the discussion around whether the BCCI’s selection policies and team management strategies are fully aligned, especially in nurturing talent for the long term.