How an Off-Season Camp Powered Nitish Reddy’s Pace Spurt Before IPL 2026 Nitish Kumar Reddy, the 22-year-old Andhra all-rounder, made a remarkable leap in his bowling speed ahead of the IPL 2026 season, gaining nearly six miles per hour in just seven days of intensive training. The transformation, which has drawn attention from Indian team management, was the result of a focused off-season camp in Bengaluru under the guidance of English fast-bowling coach Steffan Jones. The camp, which included 10 sessions of one-to-one training, marked a pivotal moment in Reddy’s career, addressing long-standing technical and physical limitations that had hindered his performance in previous seasons. Reddy’s progress was evident in his IPL 2026 debut with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where he took two wickets in their opening match against Kolkata Knight Riders. His improved pace and altered run-up technique, which had been a persistent issue since his international debut in 2024, were key factors in his success. “I wanted to work on my bowling, but it’s just the injuries I went through last year,” Reddy explained after the win. “Thankfully, I got a little time before the season, and I did pretty well in one week of training with a specific person.” The breakthrough came through collaboration with Steffan Jones, a renowned coach known for his data-driven approach and work with elite athletes. Jones, who had previously coached SRH’s bowling mentor Varun Aaron, was approached by Reddy via social media and agreed to fly to Bengaluru for a week of personalized training. The sessions focused on refining Reddy’s run-up, which had been described as angular and lacking purpose, and enhancing his speed through specialized drills. Jones emphasized the use of scientific tools to measure and improve Reddy’s performance.#bengaluru #sunrisers_hyderabad #nitish_kumar_reddy #steffan_jones #varun_aaron
Nitish Kumar Reddy Interview: ‘I have overdone things… now I realise that’ Nitish Kumar Reddy, the 22-year-old all-rounder, reflected on his journey in cricket, highlighting the challenges he faced after his promising debut in 2024. The player, who scored his maiden Test century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during India’s tour of Australia, initially showed great potential as a seam-bowling all-rounder. His early career included a rapid rise through the ranks, with his T20I debut followed swiftly by a regular spot in the ODI squad. However, his performances did not match his early promise, and recurring injuries hindered his ability to establish consistency. Despite being part of the Test squad for the England series, he missed key matches due to an injury before the Manchester Test. Even after recovering, the selectors and coaches struggled to unlock his potential, with questions about his batting position and bowling effectiveness persisting. The turning point for Reddy came during a seven-day break after the Ranji Trophy, where he sought to address his bowling pace issues. He reached out to Steffan Jones, founder of PaceLab, after watching his work on social media. Jones, along with feedback from players in Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad, guided Reddy through technical adjustments. The changes focused on increasing his run-up speed and refining his bowling mechanics, particularly his loading and hand position. While not fully implemented, these adjustments have already shown results, with Reddy’s bowling performance improving significantly in the IPL. His confidence has also translated to his batting, as he has taken on more responsibility for his franchise. Reddy acknowledged the importance of mental toughness, citing players like MS Dhoni and Mahendra Singh Dhoni as inspirations.#hyderabad #andhra_pradesh #nitish_kumar_reddy #melbourne_cricicket_ground #pace_lab
