Sunrisers Hyderabad would be praying that Nitish Kumar Reddy remains uncapped: Aakash Chopra

Nitish Kumar Reddy has been picked in India's 15-member squad for the forthcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, former cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will want the seam-bowling all-rounder to not get a game in the series so that they can retain him as an uncapped player ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction.

The first T20I gets underway on Sunday, October 6, at the newly-built Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior. With Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube already in the side, it might be difficult for young Reddy to make the cut. However, if the Men in Blue manage to wrap up the series in the first two games, there could be a possibility of them handing a debut to the 21-year-old to give him a taste of international cricket.

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“They would be praying that Nitish Kumar Reddy remains uncapped. They would be saying - 'Please don't play him in the T20I series'. Just like Harshit Rana, his name is also there in that team and if he gets a chance to play, he will also become capped,” Chopra said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.

Chopra opined that captain Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Travis Head would be SRH's preferred picks when it comes to capped retentions.

“They have to firstly retain the captain and Abhishek Sharma. You have to retain Heinrich Klaasen and it's great if you can get Travis Head. These four names come to my mind, to begin with. Pat Cummins, since he is the captain, and he managed the team very well, you will want to retain him,” Chopra observed.

If Abhishek Sharma goes into the auction, he can go from 10 to 18 crores, he can go to any amount: Aakash Chopra

Sharma had a phenomenal season with the bat in IPL 2024. He matched Head shot for shot and finished the tournament with an awe-inspiring strike rate of 204.22. Chopra said that SRH should retain the southpaw because he could be one of the most expensive picks if he goes into the auction.

“Abhishek Sharma is a no-brainer. If Abhishek Sharma goes into the auction, he can go from 10 to 18 crores, he can go to any amount. So retain him as well. Abhishek Sharma will be my second pick,” Chopra stated.

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The cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned that Klaasen and Head might not go for 14 crores at the auction but advised SRH to retain both the destructive batters.

“After that, Heinrich Klaasen and Travis Head. If Travis Head or Heinrich Klaasen go into the auction, I don't think both of them will go for 14 crores, although I rate both of them very highly, especially Heinrich Klaasen. Ideally, if you can retain them, do that. Retain four players somehow, among which three will be overseas,” he ended.