During Hyderabad’s IPL 2024 clash against Punjab on Tuesday in Mullanpur, Nitish Reddy expressed gratitude towards skipper Pat Cummins for allowing him to bowl according to his instincts. Despite conceding runs at an economy rate of 11 in three overs, Nitish’s dismissal of Jitesh Sharma at a critical juncture proved pivotal in Hyderabad’s narrow victory.
With 69 runs required off the final 28 balls, Nitish executed a well-planned slower bouncer, inducing Jitesh to miscue straight to Abhishek Sharma at deep square leg. Nitish credited Cummins for endorsing his decision to attempt the variation, which ultimately paid dividends for Hyderabad.
Subsequently awarded the Player of the Match accolade, Nitish’s innings saw a transformation from a cautious start to an aggressive onslaught, particularly targeting left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar with two sixes and two fours. Acknowledging the challenges posed by Punjab’s bowlers, Nitish stressed the importance of self-belief in navigating through difficult phases.
“To be honest, even I felt that it was difficult to play them. Arshdeep (Singh) was bowling the outswingers well and at that time, I backed myself to have self-belief, otherwise I was not going to make it. I needed to play out the fast bowlers and then attack the spinners,” Nitish said in a video on IPL’s official website.
Nitish also acknowledged the role of his teammate Abdul Samad, whose partnership and encouragement boosted his confidence during a crucial phase of the innings. Their 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket proved instrumental in resurrecting Hyderabad’s innings after a precarious position at 100 for 5.
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“When Brar came into the attack, I thought I had to take him down, otherwise we are not going to get the total we wanted. When I was planning to score quick runs, it was the time he (Samad) came. It’s not easy for batters to attack all bowlers. He gave me a little confidence. He came and played some good shots down the ground,” Nitish added.
Reflecting on his performance, Nitish emphasized his confidence in his bowling abilities, particularly highlighting the significance of the wicket he claimed. He recounted a conversation with Cummins, where he expressed his desire to bowl the slower bouncer despite initial hesitation from the skipper. Cummins eventually entrusted Nitish with the responsibility, granting him the autonomy to execute his plan.
“I was always confident of my bowling. The wicket I picked was crucial; I told Pat that I wanted to bowl a slower bouncer. He said ‘It’s not that necessary, you can try to hit hard lengths’. Next, I said to Pat that I was confident of the slower bouncer. He said, ‘If you are so confident, then go’. He gave me a free hand, and it worked well,” Nitish concluded.
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