Ahead of the second Test against the West Indies, India's Test skipper, Shubman Gill, has emphasized the team management's desire to provide ample game time to young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, especially in home conditions. Gill highlighted Reddy's potential and ability, recognizing the importance of nurturing his talent. The second Test is set to commence at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Friday.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, a 22-year-old all-rounder, made his debut series in Australia and impressed with his attacking style and ability to take on bowlers from the start. He scored 298 runs in nine innings, averaging 37.25, including a century during the Boxing Day Test. He also contributed with five wickets in 44 overs. However, in the first Test against the West Indies, Reddy had limited opportunities, bowling only four overs and not getting a chance to bat.

Gill acknowledged the challenges of finding opportunities for Reddy, especially with the team often requiring a third or fourth seamer in overseas conditions. He stressed that it would be unfair to only play him overseas, especially with limited overseas tours in the near future. Gill stated, "To be able to back a guy who can bowl 10-15 overs for us in a day and can bat as well... We saw how he batted in Australia, so there is definitely a lot of ability and a lot of potential in him".

Echoing Gill's sentiments, India's assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate revealed that the team is likely to field the same playing XI for the second Test against the West Indies. He emphasized the importance of developing a seam-bowling all-rounder for India, particularly for overseas tours. Ten Doeschate said, "We didn't get a very good look at Nitish last week, so I think it's actually a very good opportunity to give him another go and not alter the balance of the team. We think he's a fantastic seam bowling all-rounder".

Ten Doeschate also highlighted Reddy's batting prowess, recalling his performance in Australia. He believes the current series provides an excellent opportunity for Reddy to develop his bowling skills. While Reddy didn't get much opportunity in the first Test, he did take a diving catch to dismiss Tagenarine Chanderpaul.

Former India player Abhishek Nayar also supported the team management's decision to retain Reddy in the playing XI. He emphasized that providing more opportunities will help Reddy gain assurance and develop into a capable all-rounder. Nayar noted that Reddy has shown his potential in Australia and England and needs to be encouraged.

The focus on Nitish Kumar Reddy's development aligns with India's long-term strategy of nurturing talent and building a well-rounded team. Assessing Reddy's utility in home conditions is a priority for the team management as they aim to provide him with the necessary exposure and experience. The team sees value in players who can bat anywhere from number five to eight, fitting into India's deep batting lineup that includes Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel.