Mohit Sharma has advised against drawing direct comparisons between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Hardik Pandya, contending that such parallels generate unjust expectations for the younger all-rounder.

Mohit Sharma emphasized that the two players possess distinct batting styles and skill sets, and that Reddy should be assessed on his own merits rather than in comparison to Pandya’s established record.

Mohit Sharma expressed his apprehensions regarding the manner in which the perception of Nitish Kumar performance is influenced by the continual comparisons.

Different skill types necessitate distinct expectations.

Mohit Sharma provided a more detailed explanation of the distinctions between various types of all-rounders in international cricket.

He observed that teams generally seek all-rounders with a specific skill balance, in which bowling is the primary responsibility and batting represents secondary value. The Indian cricketer emphasized that Nitish Kumar fulfills the expectations of his role when viewed independently, rather than in comparison to established personalities.

Team management’s support in spite of injury setbacks

Mohammad Kaif provided his viewpoint on Nitish Kumar progression within the Indian team structure.

Kaif emphasized the team management’s dedication to developing Reddy’s potential, while simultaneously acknowledging the obstacles presented by recurring injuries. The former India batsman observed that Reddy has never been removed from the squad and has only missed matches due to fitness concerns.

After missing recent matches due to injury, Nitish Kumar returned to the Indian squad for the Afghanistan T20I series. He exhibited his bowling prowess by accumulating three-wicket hauls in the second and third T20Is against Afghanistan during the series. Reddy demonstrated his domestic all-round capabilities by scoring 302 runs at a strike rate of 171.59 and claiming eight wickets during the IPL 2026 season.

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