Suryansh Shedge Gets Maiden India Call-Up After Nitish Kumar Reddy Injury Rules Him Out

Mumbai: India’s build-up to the upcoming T20I assignments against Ireland and England has hit a snag, with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out due to injury. Stepping into his place is Mumbai all-rounder Suryansh Shedge, who has earned a maiden senior India call-up, rewarded for his strong run of form in domestic cricket and for India A.

Confirming the change, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said Nitish would miss both series after picking up an injury during India’s recent ODI series against Afghanistan.

“The Men’s Selection Committee has named Suryansh Shedge as a replacement for Nitish Kumar Reddy in India’s squads for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England. Nitish reported left quadriceps discomfort after the third ODI against Afghanistan on June 20. Following a subsequent medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team has recommended a period of rehabilitation, ruling him out of both T20I series,” the board said in a statement.

Reddy’s absence costs India one of their key seam-bowling all-round options at a time when the squad is already without Hardik Pandya, who is still recovering from an injury sustained during IPL 2026. The Andhra Pradesh all-rounder had been expected to take on a significant role during the white-ball leg of the UK tour, given his unique balance-providing function in the side. He remains the only seam-bowling all-rounder in India’s ODI squad, and one of just two such options in the T20I setup.

Shedge’s elevation comes on the back of a sustained run of form across formats. The Mumbai cricketer recently played for India A in the tri-series in Sri Lanka, where he played a key role in the team’s title-winning campaign. Batting in the middle order, he scored 147 runs across five matches while also contributing 23 overs with the ball, picking up two wickets.

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“Suryansh earned the call-up following a string of impressive performances for India A in the recently concluded tri-series in Sri Lanka. Batting in the middle order, the 23-year-old scored 147 runs in five matches and also chipped in with the ball, bowling 23 overs across the tournament. He was also one of the standout performers for Mumbai in their victorious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign in 2024-25, scoring 131 runs at a strike rate of 251.92 in the lower middle order,” the statement read further.

A right-handed batter who bowls medium pace, Shedge first came to national attention during Mumbai’s title-winning Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, where his explosive lower-order hitting proved decisive. Those performances earned him a Rs 30 lakh contract with Punjab Kings at the IPL 2025 auction. He had earlier been drafted into the IPL in 2023 as a replacement for Jaydev Unadkat at Lucknow Super Giants but did not get a game that season. His breakthrough eventually came with Punjab Kings, for whom he has now featured across two IPL campaigns.

In 17 innings, Shedge has scored 165 runs at a strike rate of 163.36. His IPL 2026 season was particularly encouraging, with 158 runs from seven innings at a strike rate of 175.55. India will play two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast before travelling to the UK for five T20Is and three ODIs.