Why are Nitish Kumar Reddy & Harsh Dubey not playing IND vs AFG 2nd ODI?
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bowl first.
India made changes to their playing combination for 2nd ODI against Afghanistan (IND vs AFG) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow as they looked to secure the three-match series. The hosts entered the contest with a 1-0 lead after registering a seven-wicket victory in the rain-affected opener in Dharamsala.
The ODI series has provided India with an opportunity to assess multiple players ahead of the ODI World Cup 2027. With several senior players unavailable due to injuries, the team management has also been evaluating bench strength and role-specific combinations in different conditions.
Harsh Dubey enjoyed a memorable debut in Dharamsala, claiming three wickets, while Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed as India continued their experimentation ahead of future white-ball assignments. Their performances generated interest over whether they would retain their places for the 2nd ODI.
Why did Harsh Dubey & Nitish Kumar Reddy miss the 2nd ODI?
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harsh Dubey missed the second ODI as India made changes to their playing XI for the Lucknow fixture, opting for different personnel based on team balance and conditions.
The BCCI confirmed on Wednesday morning that Nitish Kumar Reddy was unavailable for selection in the second ODI because of a sore left thigh. The all-rounder was therefore not considered for India’s playing XI against Afghanistan in Lucknow.
Nitish has been regarded as one of India’s emerging pace-bowling all-rounders and was expected to be among the players competing for opportunities during the series. However, the thigh issue forced the team management to take a precautionary approach and leave him out of contention for the second ODI.
Meanwhile, Harsh Dubey was not part of India’s playing XI despite being available for selection. The left-arm spinning all-rounder missed out as the team management opted for a different combination for the Lucknow fixture.
Dubey has enjoyed a rapid rise in domestic cricket and earned recognition after impressive performances across formats. However, India’s squad depth meant competition for places remained intense, particularly in the spin-bowling department where multiple established options were available.
With India leading the series 1-0, the focus remains on securing the series, while Nitish’s fitness status and potential availability for the final ODI have become key points of interest for the team management.
Indian selectors and team management have used the Afghanistan series to evaluate squad depth, particularly with several established players either returning from injuries or competing for places in the ODI setup.
As a result, changes between matches were expected as the management continued to test different options ahead of the upcoming ODI series and World Cup 2027.
Did Nitish Kumar Reddy play in the first ODI against Afghanistan?
Yes. Nitish Kumar Reddy was part of India’s playing XI in the series opener, which India won by seven wickets.
Are Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harsh Dubey still part of India’s ODI squad?
Yes. Both players remain part of India’s squad for the Afghanistan ODI series despite missing the second match.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Anubha Anandita Pathak is a sports enthusiast with a strong passion for cricket and basketball, shaped by her experience as a district-level basketball and kabaddi player. A loyal Golden State Warriors supporter, she closely follows Stephen Curry’s style of play. With on-ground reporting experience covering the Indian Super League and Karnataka’s hockey circuit, Anubha brings both perspective and passion to her storytelling.