Chopra urged the team management to handle all medium-pace all-rounders very carefully.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday (June 23) announced that Nitish sustained the injury after the final ODI against Afghanistan, requiring a period of rehabilitation.
The Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI Selection Committee has named Mumbai all-rounder Suryansh Shedge as Nitish’s replacement for both T20I series.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra opined that a fragile sticker needs to put on seam-bowling all-rounders like Nitish Reddy and Hardik Pandya.
Chopra highlighted that both players get injured too often, and urged the team management to handle all medium-pace all-rounders very carefully.
"Nitish Kumar Reddy has gotten injured once again. A fragile sticker should be put on him. Why put it on him alone? You should put it on everyone. Put it on Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Put a fragile sticker on all medium-pace all-rounders. Handle with care," Chopra said.
He expressed concern over India's lack of reliable seam-bowling all-rounders ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
"Hardik Pandya hasn't been available for such a long time. He is still not available. Don't know when he will be available. Nitish Kumar Reddy is available sporadically. I think he has a quadriceps injury because of which he is out of the Ireland and England tour, and we are starting to think what would happen in 2027. You don't have too many options left because it's a very rare commodity," Chopra noted.
According to Aakash Chopra, Suryansh has impressed one and all with his exploits for India A and Punjab Kings in the IPL, and should get opportunities in the UK.
"Suryansh Shedge has been selected. He also comes from Mumbai. He performed well for Mumbai and then did well for the Punjab Kings. Now he was part of the India A team, and if you see his numbers there, he has been good. A good utility cricketer. He should get opportunities because the conditions will be like that," he stated.
Chopra mentioned that Shashank Singh could have replaced Nitish Reddy but he had a quiet IPL 2026 season with PBKS.
"I can't help but think about what would have happened had Shashank Singh had a good season. He bowled decently for Punjab, and although he is a good fielder, he kept dropping catches one after the other, and he didn't bat as well as he did in the previous two years. When a spot opened up, your form dipped a little, someone else had form, he took that place, and you were left rubbing your hands," he remarked.