A nail-biting victory for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) showcased the emergence of a new batting hero: Nitish Kumar Reddy. His blistering knock of 64 runs off just 37 balls proved to be the turning point in the match. However, for teammate Abdul Samad (25 off 12 balls), this performance was a revelation.
SRH Batting Reboot
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Abdul Samad highlighted the overall improvement in SRH’s batting this season. He emphasized the importance of a strong start in the powerplay, which allows them to set challenging targets. This shift in strategy has yielded positive results, with all batters contributing more consistently. He said:
“From last 3-4 season we weren’t able to get the start in the power play. But this time from opening to lower order all our batters are in good form. When you get the 70-80 run start in power play than its easy to set the target of 220-240 for you.”
Nitish Kumar Reddy: A Changed Man
However, it was Nitish Kumar Reddy who particularly surprised Abdul Samad. “Last year Nitish Kumar Reddy wasn’t batting like this,” Samad admitted. He described Reddy’s previous batting style as more conventional and middle-order focused.
Abdul Samad attributed Nitish Kumar Reddy’s success to his dedication during the off-season. He revealed that Reddy practiced extensively and impressed everyone with his performances in SRH’s practice matches. This newfound confidence led to his promotion in the batting order against Punjab Kings.
“Last year Nitish Kumar Reddy wasn’t batting like this. Last year he used to play like typical middle order batter and use to play many conventional shot. But for IPL 2024, he has completely changed. He practised very much for this season and in SRH’s practice matches too, he had a great impact. All were impressed by him, thats why all are backing him up.”
“To carry out the last game’s confidence he was promoted in today’s game (vs Punjab Kings). And everyone was confident of him that he will deliver.”
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PBKS vs SRH: Momentum Swings
After making competitive 182/9, SRH’s strong bowling performance in the powerplay restricted PBKS to a precarious 27/3. However, a fightback from Sikandar Raza and Sam Curran, followed by a late onslaught by Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, kept the Kings in contention.
IPL 2024: Tense Finish
The final over was a dramatic affair. Despite dropping catches and conceding wides, SRH bowler Jaydev Unadkat held his nerve to secure a thrilling two-run victory.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s impactful performance and his remarkable transformation have become a talking point for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. His success is a testament to hard work and a sign of the team’s overall improvement in batting this season.
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