"Pat Cummins joined the team just 3 days before, how did he know?"- Nitish Kumar Reddy's sensational revelation on SRH captain
Published - 12 Jul 2024, 01:03 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:15 AM
Young SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy recently opened up about his first interaction with skipper Pat Cummins during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Nitish Kumar Reddy expressed his surprise at Pat Cummins' acknowledgment, which significantly boosted his confidence.
Nitish Kumar Reddy had a standout performance in the 2024 T20 tournament. The right-handed batter scored 303 runs at an impressive average of 33.67 and a strike rate of 142.92 while batting in the middle order. The right-arm pacer also contributed with the ball, taking three wickets across 13 matches for SRH.
The 21-year-old all-rounder played a crucial role in his team's journey to the tournament final. However, the Pat Cummins-led team lost against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final match. Nitish Kumar Reddy was named the Emerging Player of the Year for his outstanding performances in the recent IPL season.
That's Really A Kind Of Boost - Nitish Kumar Reddy
In an interview with News18 CricketNext, Nitish Kumar Reddy said that he was excited about sharing a dressing room with Pat Cummins. Reddy expressed surprise to learn that Cummins had already recognized his talent through YouTube videos, which motivated him even further.
“Pat joined before just three days before the IPL. Meanwhile, I did well in the practice games and the coaches were really impressed. But I wanted the skipper to know. I was like, ‘Does he know how I play and how I approach the game?’. But when he joined, he said, ‘Nitish, you’re playing very well’," Nitish told News18 CricketNext.
“I was like shocked. How does he know about my batting? He didn’t see me in the practice sessions So I asked him about it and he said he saw my batting videos on YouTube and appreciated my talent. So that’s really a kind of boost,” Reddy said.
The 21-year-old showcased his skills in his second match of the IPL 2024 season. He saved the Hyderabad-based team from a collapse against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). He scored a career-best 64 runs off 37 balls, hitting five sixes and four fours, with a strike rate of 172.97. SRH won the match by just two runs.
Made Sure I Played A Crucial Knock - Nitish Kumar Reddy
Nitish Kumar Reddy revealed that he had been preparing for his innings for some time. Reddy added that he focused on playing a key role by taking his time at the crease. He said his performance was crucial, especially after the team lost three wickets early.
“I’ve been actually planning for this innings for a while. When I got the opportunity, I made sure I played a crucial knock. I planned to stick around and take some time. I observed how spinners would bowl and attack them. So, that was the plan. We were three down and going over there and playing in those conditions really boosted my confidence,” he said about the knock.
Nitish Kumar's impressive performances earned him a spot in the Indian squad for the ongoing five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. However, he was ruled out of the series due to a hernia injury. He may receive a second call-up for the upcoming three T20Is against Sri Lanka in August.
