India’s preparation for their upcoming white-ball tour of Ireland and England has faced an unexpected setback after promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out due to an injury. In a swift response, the senior selection committee has handed a maiden national call-up to Mumbai’s 23-year-old all-rounder, Suryansh Shedge. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially confirmed the development, noting that Nitish reported left quadriceps discomfort following the concluding ODI against Afghanistan on June 20, and has been advised to undergo formal rehabilitation.
Nitish’s untimely exit leaves a noticeable void in the Indian seam-bowling all-rounder department, particularly since the squad is already missing Hardik Pandya, who is recovering from an injury sustained during IPL 2026. This Andhra Pradesh cricketer was expected to play a critical balancing role as a vital medium-pacer and lower-middle-order batsman during the UK tour. His sudden exclusion forced the national selectors to scour the domestic setup for a reliable utility player who could seamlessly adjust to the demands of the international game.
Suryansh Shedge’s inclusion comes on the back of stellar performances for India A during their recent title-winning tri-series campaign in Sri Lanka, where he notched up 147 runs across five fixtures. He initially rose to prominence during Mumbai’s victorious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, where his blistering strike rate of 251.92 caught the attention of franchises, eventually landing him a contract with Punjab Kings. Shedge further solidified his reputation during IPL 2026, amassing 158 runs in seven innings at a striking rate of 175.55, making him a fitting tactical replacement for the high-stakes T20I series in Belfast and England.
