Former greats Ravi Shastri and Sourav Ganguly have urged Indian selectors to hand a debut to uncapped all-rounder Nitish Reddy for the first Test against Australia in Perth. With Mohammed Shami absent due to injury, India’s pace attack is under scrutiny for the series opener of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to spearhead the bowling on Perth’s bouncy track, with Akash Deep also an option. However, Shastri believes Reddy’s inclusion as a fourth seamer could be pivotal, likening his potential role to Shardul Thakur’s impactful performance in the ICC World Test Championship final. "Reddy can bat, provide respite to the frontline bowlers, and deliver crucial eight to ten overs," Shastri stated on The ICC Review. With Australia’s powerful batting lineup, Reddy’s all-round skills could bolster India’s chances in the high-stakes opener.