For Nitish Kumar Reddy, the 18th version of the IPL has lent a first-hand expertise of simply how fickle the T20 format will be.
At the beginning of this 12 monthsâs summer season ritual, the 22-year-old should have meant to construct on his breakthrough 2024 season. In Sunrisers Hyderabadâs run to final 12 monthsâs last, Nitish had been the shock package deal, his quickfire knocks and some overs of medium-pace offering Pat Cumminsâ males higher depth within the two core departments.
The all-round expertise, in flip, helped the teenager from Andhra Pradesh get fast-tracked into Indiaâs T20I and Test groups. And he had respectable success too, notching up a maiden Test century towards Australia on the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Down flip
But during the last two months within the IPL, Nitish has endured a conspicuous downturn. In 13 matches this season, the middle-order batter tallied simply 182 runs at 22.75. His strike charge of 118.95 was additionally not up to scratch. He can have to shift focus now to the five-Test tour of England, the place he is a part of an 18-member squad as considered one of two seam-bowling all-rounders alongside Shardul Thakur.
SRH coach Daniel Vettori threw his weight behind Nitish. âItâs always tricky to play that role at No. 4 or 5. But we know that Nitish, when heâs at his best, builds his innings and can then capitalise at the end against pace and spin. So I think it is just one of those seasons thatâs a little bit of a learning for him, but heâs too good a player not to bounce back,â the bespectacled Kiwi instructed reporters.
With the ball, too, Nitish had a negligible presence, rolling his arm over in simply the final three matches. âHe brought a side-strain into the tournament, and then it was just a slow, meticulous build-up. It was purely down to injury,â Vettori revealed.
Published – May 26, 2025 06:52 pm IST
