Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out of Ireland and England T20Is; replacement announced

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India have suffered a setback ahead of their upcoming white-ball tour of Ireland and England, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming a change to the squad. The Men in Blue are set to return to T20I action for the first time since lifting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 title earlier this year, with newly-appointed captain Shreyas Iyer preparing to lead a fresh-looking side.

As preparations gather pace for the two-match series in Ireland and the subsequent five-match T20I series in England, the selectors have been forced into an unexpected alteration following an injury concern within the squad. The change opens the door for one of India’s emerging domestic stars to earn his maiden senior national team call-up.

The BCCI announced that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of both T20I assignments after reporting discomfort in his left quadriceps following the third ODI against Afghanistan on June 20. According to the board’s official statement, the BCCI Medical Team conducted further assessments and subsequently recommended a period of rehabilitation for the Hyderabad all-rounder. As a result, Nitish will miss the two T20Is against Ireland as well as the five-match series against England.

To replace him, the Men’s Selection Committee has drafted in Mumbai all-rounder Suryansh Shedge. The 23-year-old has earned his maiden India call-up after producing a string of impressive performances in domestic and representative cricket over the last year. Shedge recently featured for India A in the tri-series in Sri Lanka, where he scored 147 runs in five matches and contributed with the ball as well.

His standout performance came in the form of an unbeaten 72 against Sri Lanka A, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure. The updated India squad receives an additional boost through Shedge’s familiarity with captain Iyer, having already played under him at Punjab Kings (PBKS) during IPL 2026.

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Shedge’s rise through the ranks has been built on a series of impactful performances across formats. He played a crucial role in Mumbai’s victorious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 campaign, scoring 131 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 251.92 while operating as a lower-middle-order finisher.

His performances continued in IPL 2026, where he emerged as an important contributor for Punjab Kings. Batting in the lower middle order, Shedge scored 158 runs in seven innings at an average of 39.50 and an impressive strike rate of 175.50, including a valuable half-century.

The Mumbai youngster has earned a reputation for thriving in high-pressure situations and possesses the ability to contribute in multiple departments. His development has also been aided by training alongside players such as Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav, while guidance from former India coach Abhishek Nayar has helped refine his finishing skills.

With India set to begin their Ireland campaign on June 26 in Belfast before travelling to England for a five-match T20I series starting July 1, Shedge now has a golden opportunity to establish himself on the international stage and strengthen India’s pool of pace-bowling all-rounders.

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