Nothing’s ever given, everything is earned. This was the message that India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate made clear to the media when talking about handing debuts to players such as Nitish Kumar Reddy on Friday.
After being cruelly denied the opportunity of a lifetime due to injury, Nitish Kumar Reddy has shown the cricketing world a classic tale of rebounding as the young all-rounder made his mark for India with the bat and the ball during the second T20I vs Bangladesh in New Delhi.
With the bat, Nitish would go on to light up the skies with confidence, putting up a fiery 74 runs in just 34 balls, an innings peppered with 4 fours and 7 sixes.
He would also go on to dazzle with the ball, registering a spell of 2/23 in 4 overs, as he scalped the ever-important wicket of Mahmudullah to kill the visitors’ spirits in their chase.
Not just Nitish, but it was also pace sensation Mayank Yadav, who was also handed his first cap for India alongside Nitish.
For Ryan ten Doeschate, this wasn’t merely openings handed down to the players, but rather chances that were earned the hard way by his respective players.
“I mean, the first thing I say is we don’t give opportunities. The guys earn opportunities,” stated ten Doeschate at the presser.
“Someone like Nitesh, who was the emerging player from the IPL last year, has impressed us with the work he’s done. And that goes for everyone who comes into these squads. They’re very carefully selected.”
ten Doschate reemphasised on the importance of constructing a strong core group, who will be able to withstand the challenges that lie ahead in the upcoming busy cricket season for India.
“Ideally, we want to build a strong core of players. We know that the Champions Trophy coming up, with the Asia Cup, Asia Cup coming up and the World Cup coming. We want to know where everyone stands in Indian cricket and it’s good to see the depth we’ve had so far.”
India will face off against Bangladesh in the final and third T20I tomorrow on Saturday, as they aim to clinch another whitewash against the visitors.
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