Don’t ship him at No. 7 or No. 8

Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that Nitish Kumar Reddy will likely get a place in the Men in Blue’s playing XI for the second ODI against New Zealand. He urged the team management not to send Reddy at No. 7 or No. 8 if the seam-bowling all-rounder is included in the XI.

The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be played in Rajkot on Wednesday, January 14. With Washington Sundar being ruled out of the last two games, the hosts will have to make at least one change in their playing XI.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India opener requested Shubman Gill and company to bat Reddy at No. 6 if the latter is a part of the XI.

“Will there be a place for Nitish Kumar Reddy? I ask this question because you played Washington Sundar and you sent Harshit Rana ahead of him as Washi was injured, but Washi had to come after that. No. 7 or No. 8, you need a batter,” Chopra said. (3:20)

“We had become like a broken record asking for Nitish Kumar Reddy to be played, and it seems like they will play him now. If you play him, I request you with folded hands to send him at No. 6. Don’t send him at No. 7 or No. 8 because that will not be the right thing to do,” he added.

Nitish Kumar Reddy has represented India in two ODIs. He batted at No. 8 in both games, scoring 27 runs at an average of 27.00 and a strike rate of 128.57.

“KL Rahul, you should go at No. 5” – Aakash Chopra on India’s batting order for IND vs NZ 2026 2nd ODI

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that KL Rahul should bat at No. 5 in the second ODI against New Zealand.

“In what we have seen in Nitish Kumar Reddy’s career thus far, it has happened many times that you play him, but don’t play him properly. I get a sore throat speaking about it. So I won’t talk more. However, I see him playing. Hopefully, he gets to bat at No. 6. KL Rahul, you should go at No. 5. I am unable to understand it at all when you go at No. 6,” he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja and Harshit Rana should follow Rahul in the batting order.

“You remain at No. 5, keep Nitish Kumar Reddy at No. 6, Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7, Harshit Rana at No. 8, and stop the flexibility and the experimenting. It’s not required. If you don’t play Nitish at No.6 and don’t get him to bowl a few overs, I will say again that you play him, but don’t do proper justice with him,” Chopra observed.

KL Rahul scored an unbeaten 29 off 21 deliveries at No. 6 in the first ODI against New Zealand. While Ravindra Jadeja managed a five-ball four at No. 5, Harshit Rana scored a crucial 23-ball 29 at No. 7.