India, Oct. 20 -- The importance of a pace bowling all-rounder in New Zealand is not lost on any team from the sub-continent. The player lends balance in both batting and bowling and it is why Nitish Kumar Reddy finds himself in all three India squads -T20, ODI and Test- for the tour of New Zealand, which begins with T20Is.

In a sense, this tour is crucial for both Reddy and India. The Men in Blue need an alternative to their first-choice pace all-rounder Hardik Pandya and the 23-year-old talented cricketer needs to prove he deserves that backing.

Reddy, though, is yet to prove himself as a premier all-rounder. For someone who has started his international cricket in 2024 with scores of 41 and 38* at Perth, 42 and 42 in his two innings ...