Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has strongly advocated for young cricketer Nitish Reddy to be considered a viable backup for Hardik Pandya, urging the team management to show patience with his development. Pathan's comments came after Reddy's promising performance in the recently concluded One Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand. In the third and final ODI in Indore, Reddy scored a half-century (53 runs off 57 balls) and demonstrated his bowling capabilities, touching speeds of 135 kmph. Pathan expressed his belief on his YouTube channel that Reddy, who bats right-handed and bowls right-arm medium-fast, possesses the rare skill set of a fast-bowling all-rounder that India currently lacks. Reddy has rapidly risen through the ranks, making his T20 International and Test debuts in 2024. He notably scored his maiden Test century in December 2024 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. His impressive domestic and IPL 2024 performances, where he won the Emerging Player of the Year award, led to him being retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for the IPL 2025 season for Rs. 6 Crores. However, some reports indicate a struggle in IPL 2025 with an average of 21.83. The recent India-New Zealand ODI series, which concluded on January 19, 2026, saw New Zealand clinch their first-ever ODI series victory on Indian soil with a 2-1 win. Hardik Pandya was rested for this series, providing an opportunity for other all-rounders. Pathan stressed that consistent opportunities, even amidst failures, are crucial for Reddy to blossom into a dependable all-rounder, much like Hardik Pandya's own journey. This discussion is highly relevant as India prepares for the 2026 T20 World Cup.