Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged current Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill to show continued faith in young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, emphasizing that he should be persisted with even through failures. Pathan conveyed this advice on his YouTube channel, highlighting Reddy's potential as a backup for Hardik Pandya. He praised Reddy's performance in the third ODI against New Zealand, where he scored a fifty and demonstrated an ability to hit big shots and rotate the strike. Gautam Gambhir assumed the role of head coach for the Indian cricket team in July 2024, with his contract extending until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Shubman Gill currently leads India as captain in both Test and One Day International formats. The discussion around Reddy's role comes after the team's recent 1-2 ODI series loss against New Zealand, which sparked scrutiny over player selections and performances. Nitish Kumar Reddy, a seam-bowling all-rounder, has been struggling to secure a regular place in the Indian playing XI despite being considered a valuable asset by the team management. India's assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, recently acknowledged Reddy's inability to make a significant impact when given opportunities. These remarks, along with comments on Rohit Sharma's form, drew criticism from former cricketers. Furthermore, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has questioned the alignment between the selection committee and the coaching staff regarding Reddy's utilization, noting that he is often selected but rarely plays or is underutilized when he does. The call from Irfan Pathan underscores the ongoing debate within Indian cricket about nurturing young talent like Reddy for future international assignments.