Nitish Reddy ensured that the cricketing world took note of his brilliance by impressing veterans like Mohammad Kaif with his all-around abilities on a grand scale in IPL 2024.

The over-reliance on Hardik Pandya as India’s fast-bowling all-rounder has hurt the team in the past, as they failed to identify a suitable backup. However, IPL 2024 offered a some promise for the Men in Blue, with Reddy starring at a big stage.

Sunrisers Hyderabad had signed the young Andhra star in 2023, but his opportunities were limited. A year later, changes in the team’s management and leadership reversed the fortunes for Nitish, who delivered with a bang – scoring 303 runs and taking three wickets.

The 21-year old idolized Virat Kohli and was not an all-around specialist from the start. He candidly admitted that bowling is not his strongest suit, but he is committed to working hard to return as a better player next season.

“I’ve been getting recognized in public more often, which I really enjoy. Last season brought a lot of responsibilities as well, especially since I had a role on an IPL team that required me to play a certain way. Despite the challenges, I’m pleased that my game progressed significantly. Of course, I’d be thrilled if our team ended up winning, but that’s just part of the sport,” remarked Reddy.

“As a youth, I considered myself more of a specialist batter and I admire Virat Kohli. However, when I later aspired to become an all-rounder, I began to model my game after genuine, all-rounders like Ben Stokes and Hardik Pandya,” he continued.

“I haven’t had many interactions with Virat Bhai. The first time I played against him in the IPL, I didn’t get to bat and only bowled. This year, when I was performing well and we played against RCB. I’ve always hoped that Virat Bhai would acknowledge me and recognize me as a good player. In that match, I didn’t get to bat since we scored over 270 runs. After the match, when the teams were shaking hands, Virat greeted me by name, saying ‘Hi Nitish, how are you?’ I was pleasantly surprised that he remembered my name, likely from seeing me play earlier in the tournament. This really boosted my confidence, knowing that Virat is watching my games. It makes me want to perform even better to catch his eye further,” he further stated.