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In a thrilling Indian Premeir League (IPL) 2024 encounter between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), Nitish Kumar Reddy emerged as a standout performer, showcasing his explosive batting prowess. Despite facing a formidable Punjab side led by Shikhar Dhawan, SRH managed to register a nail-biting 2 runs victory in Mullanpur on Tuesday (April 9).
Early setback: Top-order collapse for SRH
In a fiercely contested match where Punjab’s Arshdeep Singh and Sam Curran wreaked havoc with the ball, causing a top-order collapse for SRH, notable names like Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi (11) and the usually reliable Heinrich Klaasen failed to make significant contributions with the bat. However, amidst the batting turmoil, Nitish emerged as SRH’s shining light, delivering a remarkable performance.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s explosive batting display
With a career-best score of 64 runs off just 37 balls, Reddy showcased his attacking style of play, smashing five sixes and four fours at a remarkable strike rate of 172.97. His brilliant performance played a pivotal role in SRH posting a challenging total of runs in their allotted 20 overs, ultimately securing a crucial victory in the IPL 2024 campaign.
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Here are the interesting facts about SRH’s batting dynamo Nitish Kumar Reddy:
- Early Life and Family Background: Nitish was born on May 26, 2023, in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, to K. Mutyala Reddy, a former employee of Hindustan Zinc, and Manasa Jyotsna. He grew up alongside his sister, Sharmila Reddy.
- Early Introduction to Cricket: Nitish’s tryst with cricket began at the tender age of 5 when he started playing the sport. He was drawn to the Hindustan Zinc ground, where he avidly watched senior players, laying the foundation for his cricketing aspirations.
- Transition and Training: Nitish’s father made a pivotal decision to quit his job and relocate to Udaipur when Nitish was around 10-12 years old. This move was driven by his concern over the quality of training Nitish would receive at the new workplace. Subsequently, Nitish was admitted to the Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association (VDCA) camp under the Andhra Cricket Association, initiating his formal training sessions.
- Spotting Talent: Nitish’s talent caught the eye of former Indian cricketer and selector MSK Prasad during Under-12 and Under-14 age group matches. He was selected to train at the ACA academy in Kadapa under the coaching of Madhusudhana Reddy and Srinivasa Rao, marking a significant milestone in his cricketing journey.
- Record-Breaking Performance: Nitish’s exceptional performance in the Vijay Merchant Trophy 2017-18 was nothing short of extraordinary. Scoring a remarkable 441 runs against Nagaland and ending the tournament with 1237 runs at an average of 176.41, along with 26 wickets, earned him the prestigious Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ‘Best Cricketer in the Under-16’ Jagmohan Dalmiya award, making him the pride of the Andhra Cricket Association as he became the first player from Andhra to recieved that award
- First-Class Debut and Impressive Start: Nitish made his first-class debut for Andhra Pradesh in the 2019-2020 Ranji Trophy against Kerala. His debut match was marked by a noteworthy performance, including a crucial catch of Basil Thampi and his maiden first-class wicket in form of Ponnan Rahul, showcasing his potential as a promising cricketer.
- Vijay Hazare Trophy Debut and IPL Exposure: Nitish further solidified his credentials with a stellar debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 against Vidarbha, where he smashed a fifty, scoring 54 runs off 58 balls. His talent was recognized by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who selected him as a net player, affording him the opportunity to train with the team in Dubai in September 2021.
- IPL Debut and Fulfilling a Dream: In a momentous turn of events, the SRH team signed Nitish ahead of the IPL 2023 edition in the auction of IPL 2022. His dream of sharing the field with his idol, Virat Kohli, came true when he made his IPL debut against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in May 2023, marking an unforgettable milestone in his cricketing journey.
