It was a dream season for Nitish Kumar Reddy, in more than one way.
The 21-year-old, in a breakthrough IPL 2024, scored 303 runs and flaunted his bowling skills, picking up 13 wickets in 13 matches for runners-up SunRisers.
More than the numbers, it was the learning experience that seems to have given Nitish wings to dream big.
Will India's search to identify the next Hardik Pandya end with Nitish Kumar Reddy?
I was in good shape in last season too, but I did not get the opportunities last season.
It was a dream season for Nitish Kumar Reddy, in more than one way. The 21-year-old, in a breakthrough IPL 2024, scored 303 runs and flaunted his bowling skills, picking up 13 wickets in 13 matches for runners-up SunRisers. More than the numbers, it was the learning experience that seems to have given Nitish wings to dream big. He was able to pick Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's brains about bowling and gained valuable knowledge about the importance of taking the game deep from one of the best finishers going around -- Heinrich Klaasen.
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In an exclusive interview with IndiaToday.in, Nitish Kumar Reddy spoke about comparisons to Hardik Pandya, his eye-catching stint with the SunRisers and his ambitions to don the India blue in the near future.
Nitish's talent and maturity with the bat earned him a lot of plaudits in IPL 2024. In a game against the Rajasthan IPL franchise, SRH were 2 wickets down inside the powerplay, Nitish came into bat and scored 76 not out off just 42 balls. The batter combined with Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen and took SRH to a total of 201 runs, which proved just enough for the SunRisers to secure a victory.
It was no surprise when the highly-rated all-rounder from Visakhapatnam won the Emerging Player of the Year Award -- a recognition for his all-round show at 21.
Nitish's IPL heroics have put him in the assembly line of young Indian stars, including the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Riyan Parag, who seem to have earned the selectors' attention. Nitish's ability to bowl close to 140 kph and bat at any position in the middle-order makes him a rare commodity in Indian cricket. Will India's search to identify the next Hardik Pandya end with Nitish Kumar Reddy?
EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW
Q. Tell me about your experience in the IPL 2024
A. It was really good compared to last year. We created history with our run scoring in the IPL and T20s. We improved a lot as a team.
Q. You were with SRH last season as well, but only got two games to play. What changed this season?
A. I have worked on my batting a lot. It is finally working. I was in good shape in last season too, but I did not get the opportunities last season. I guess it was the right time, the right opportunity for me and I thankfully grabbed that. I am grateful that all the hard work and dedication paid off.
For me. I think the team combination made a big difference. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head made a big impact at the top, and the combination played in my favour and I got more opportunities.
Q. Who are the players you learnt the most from in IPL 2024?
A. If you talk about bowling, I spoke a lot to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pat Cummins about execution and planning. They are experienced players and I tried to learn the mental side of the game from them. I spoke to Klaasen about taking the game to the end, and playing the spinners. I closely watched him and he gave me really good answers whenever I asked him anything.
Q. You were bought for only Rs 20 lakh in the IPL. Any regrets about the price, given the way you performed?
A. I am grateful that I got an opportunity to play in the IPL. It's not that I am not into money. Yes, it matters, but firt you have to get the opportunity and perform. Next season, even if you don't want money, they will give you good money in the next auction. I am grateful that I got to play a full season this time.
Q. What has been the biggest learning this season?
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A. The biggest learning for the season has been taking the game to the end. In some matches, I played shots that were not required at that point, I should have played normal cricket and I would have got runs easily. I took a risky option at that time and I learnt that I needed to spend more time in the crease and play these shots later. I got carried away and next time I will not be doing that.
Q: What are the plans, now that the IPL is over?
A. I am taking complete rest for one week. I have a shoulder issue and if it recovers in a week, I will be focusing on my bowling. My batting has improved in the last two years, I want to work on technical and mental things on the bowling side. I want to be a genuine all-rounder in the coming years.
Q. A genuine all-rounder is a rare commodity in Indian cricket. Fans are already drawing comparisons between you and Hardik Pandya. What do you have to say?
A: If you ask me, I am not comparable to Hardik Pandya. I'm confident about my batting, I rate it highly. In terms of bowling, I need to improve more, to get to his stage. I need to improve 3-4 kph, that will help me. I need to work on my yorkers. I can swing the ball both ways and I have a good slower one, I have to focus on bowling sharp yorkers now. If I can improve those 3-4 kph, I can assure India that I have a great ability to bowl like a proper bowler.
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Q. Do you think you will earn an India call-up this year?
A. As of now BCCI has not communicated anything to me. But some of my friends have been telling me that I will get to India A soon. Let's wait and see.
