Nitish Reddy Proves Himself as Allrounder Despite Impact Rule

Nitish Reddy has established himself as a valuable allrounder for Sunrisers Hyderabad, despite the impact-player rule.

Reddy's Rise to Prominence Nitish Kumar Reddy is having a good Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) focusing on their top four batsmen, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen. These four players have combined for 1739 runs so far, with Klaasen and Abhishek closing in on 500 runs each. Reddy, on the other hand, has scored 222 runs at a strike rate of 166.91 as a No. 5 batter, showcasing his value to the team. His contributions have been crucial, particularly in the death overs, where he has consistently performed well. ## Key Statistics and Achievements Reddy's statistics in IPL 2026 are impressive, with 222 runs at a strike rate of 166.91. He has also taken seven wickets at an economy rate of 10.39 in a high-scoring tournament. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball has been a significant asset to SRH. In a recent match against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Reddy smashed 29 not out in 13 balls at the death, while in another match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he scored 56 in 33 balls and played a crucial role in reviving SRH's innings. ## Coach James Franklin's Praise SRH assistant coach James Franklin has praised Reddy's performance, stating that the team functions better when they have an allrounder who is playing well and contributing both with bat and ball. Franklin noted that Reddy is 'confident' and 'playing really well with the bat, coming in and showing great intent as soon as he comes out.' He also appreciated Reddy's bowling skills, saying that he has 'swung the new ball when he's getting the opportunity to bowl in the powerplay, and he's creating opportunities.' ## Reddy's Work with Steffan Jones Reddy has been working with Steffan Jones, a former county cricketer and fast-bowling and high-performance coach, to improve his pace. The goal is to develop Reddy into one of the best allrounders in the world. Some of the wickets Reddy has taken have been crucial, such as the ones of Sanju Samson and Ayush Mhatre in the powerplay, and Will Jacks in the eighth over. ## Deep Dasgupta's Insights Expert Deep Dasgupta has praised Reddy for finding a niche as an allrounder despite the impact-player rule. Dasgupta noted that Reddy is the only proper allrounder in the tournament, batting in the middle order and bowling more often than not for at least three to four overs. He believes that Reddy has helped SRH get the team balance right and that his contributions are essential, particularly in terms of providing five bowling options. Dasgupta also stated that the impact rule has taken the allrounder out of the game, making Reddy's achievements all the more remarkable.