Nitish Kumar Reddy Finds Niche as Allrounder Despite Impact-Player Rule Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Nitish Kumar Reddy has carved out a vital role in the team despite the IPL’s impact-player rule, which has traditionally favored specialist batters and bowlers. While the squad’s top four—Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen—dominate the run-scoring with 1739 runs between them, Reddy’s contributions as a middle-order batter and part-time bowler have proven indispensable. His ability to balance the team’s batting and bowling options has earned praise from coaches and analysts, highlighting his importance in a high-scoring tournament where allrounders are increasingly valued. Reddy’s batting has been a key asset, particularly in the middle order. With 222 runs at a strike rate of 166.91, he has consistently delivered when needed. His explosive knock of 29 not out against Punjab Kings in 13 balls at the death showcased his ability to accelerate the innings, while his 56 off 33 balls against Lucknow Super Giants demonstrated resilience and adaptability. These performances have helped SRH recover from early setbacks, such as when Klaasen and Reddy revived the innings after Punjab had reduced the team to 11 for 3. Bowling has also been a significant part of Reddy’s impact. With seven wickets at an economy rate of 10.39, he has provided crucial breakthroughs in critical moments. Notably, his wickets of Sanju Samson and Ayush Mhatre in the powerplay during Chennai Super Kings’ chase of 195 proved decisive in SRH’s victory. Similarly, dismissing Will Jacks in the eighth over when Ryan Rickelton and Jacks were adding 93 runs in seven overs shifted the momentum in SRH’s favor. James Franklin, SRH’s assistant coach, emphasized Reddy’s dual role as a key factor in the team’s success.#sunrisers_hyderabad #nitish_kumar_reddy #steffan_jones #james_franks #dasgupta
