Gautam Gambhir’s Management In New Scandal- Half Fit Players Being Pushed For Face Saving

Gautam Gambhir and Devajit Saikia (Source: AFP)

Injuries are a part of any sport, and in cricket, almost every player deals with fitness setbacks during their career. However, the Indian team has faced a growing list of injury concerns in recent months under head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Players like Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy have all spent time on the sidelines, which has put pressure on India's squad balance and pointed fingers at Gautam Gambhir.

Now, a fresh report has brought Gautam Gambhir's management into the spotlight, alleging that Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy were asked to return before being fully fit.

What Does Fresh Report Say About Harshit Rana And Nitish Kumar Reddy's Injures?

According to a recent report by CricBlogger, serious questions have been raised over how Gautam Gambhir's team management handled the fitness of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana.

According to the report, Nitish Kumar Reddy was not fully fit before India's third ODI against Afghanistan. Despite concerns over his fitness, he was reportedly cleared to play.

The report claims that Gautam Gambhir's management decision worsened his quadriceps injury, eventually affecting his availability for the England tour.

"According to sources, Nitish Kumar Reddy was not fully fit ahead of the third ODI against Afghanistan but was still asked to play, aggravating his injury." as reported by CricBlogger. 

The report also stated that Harshit Rana had not reached full fitness when he was selected for the recently concluded T20I series against England. 

"The story, sources say, does not end there. Even Harshit Rana — considered one of Gambhir’s trusted fast bowlers— was on his way to get 100 per cent fit when he was picked for the ongoing T20I series. That decision led to another injury scare, leaving India’s bowling attack in England short on both experience and variety." the report added.

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What Is Nitish Reddy’s Injury Timeline In 2026?

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s recent injury problems began during the ODI series against Afghanistan. The young all-rounder first missed the second ODI after suffering a quadriceps injury in his left thigh.

Ahead of the third ODI, he was declared available for selection after reportedly recovering from the injury. 

He returned to the playing XI, but according to the latest report, Nitish Reddy had not completely recovered, and playing the match may have aggravated his injury.

After the Afghanistan series, Nitish Reddy was ruled out of the T20I series against Ireland and England. The BCCI later confirmed that he failed to recover in time and was officially ruled out of India’s ODI squad for the England series.

How Has Harshit Rana's Injury Timeline Unfolded?

Harshit Rana has endured a difficult year with multiple injury setbacks. Earlier in 2026, Harshit suffered a ligament strain in his right knee during a warm-up match before the T20 World Cup. The injury forced Harshit to miss both the ICC tournament and the IPL 2026 season.

After spending nearly four months in rehabilitation, he successfully completed his recovery and returned to the Indian squad for the ODI series against Afghanistan.

However, Harshit's return did not last long as during the third T20I against England, he picked up a hamstring injury. 

Medical examinations later confirmed a Grade 1 tear in his biceps femoris muscle, ruling Harshit Rana out of the entire ODI series against England.

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