‘We should keep our expectations low’ – Mohit Sharma on Nitish Kumar Reddy’s comparison with Hardik Pandya

Mohit Sharma has cautioned against drawing direct comparisons between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Hardik Pandya, arguing that such parallels create unfair expectations for the younger all-rounder. Sharma emphasised that the two players have different batting styles and skill sets, and that Reddy should be evaluated on his own merits rather than measured against Pandya’s established record.

Speaking on the subject, Sharma outlined his concerns about how constant comparisons affect the perception of Reddy’s performance.

“We keep taking Hardik Pandya’s name again and again, but Nitish Kumar Reddy cannot match Hardik Pandya, at least for now. What happens because of that is that our expectations will be that Nitish Kumar Reddy will bat and bowl just like Hardik Pandya does. I think that is not fair. We should keep our expectations low.” Sharma said on Cricbuzz.

“His way of batting is different. He is kind of a batter who can play the big shots once he gets set, rather than hitting a six from the first ball itself. So, if we set our expectations that way, then we are wrong. He should be used according to his talent,” he added.

Different skill sets require different expectations

Sharma further explained the distinction between different types of all-rounders in international cricket. He noted that teams typically seek all-rounders with a specific skill balance, where bowling forms the primary responsibility and batting provides secondary value. The Indian cricketer stressed that Reddy meets the expectations set for his role when viewed independently rather than through comparison with established stars.

“Generally, when someone is looking for an all-rounder in the Indian team, they usually go for someone who is 75 percent bowler and 25 percent batter. In the sense that he can score 25-30 runs in 10-15 balls. So, if we stop the comparison and view Nitish Kumar Reddy as Nitish Kumar Reddy, then he has certainly met all expectations,” Sharma said.

Team management backing despite injury setbacks

Mohammad Kaif offered his perspective on Reddy’s development within the Indian team structure. Kaif highlighted the team management’s commitment to nurturing Reddy’s talent while acknowledging the challenges posed by recurring injuries. The former India batter noted that Reddy has never been dropped from the squad and has only missed matches due to fitness concerns.

“They have recognised Nitish Kumar Reddy’s talent and know they have to groom him. That is the mindset set in place at the moment. But he is unable to play as much as he can because of injuries,” Kaif said.

“He made his Test debut a while ago, so we are backing him. Gautam Gambhir has his eyes on him, but Nitish Kumar Reddy is breaking down on his own. He has never been dropped from the team, he has always been out due to injuries,” he added.

Reddy returned to the Indian squad for the Afghanistan T20I series after missing recent matches due to injury. During the series, he demonstrated his bowling capability by picking up three-wicket hauls in the second and third T20Is against Afghanistan. In the IPL 2026 season, Reddy scored 302 runs at a strike rate of 171.59 and claimed eight wickets, showcasing his all-round abilities at the domestic level.