SRH batsman Nitish Kumar Reddy in motion towards Punjab in the course of the IPL T20 cricket match on the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Punjab, on April 09, 2024.
| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abdul Samad on Tuesday stated that within the ongoing IPL season, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s batting isn’t as standard because it was final season.
Nitish starred with 64 (37b, 4×4, 5×6), his maiden IPL fifty, in Sunrisers’ two-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) right here.
“Last year, Nitish was not batting like this. Last year, he used to play conventional shots. This time, he has become completely different.
“I think he has practised very well. And he had a very good impact in our practice matches as well. So, everyone was very impressed with him. That’s why we are backing him,” Samad stated on the post-match press convention.
“I think he has been promoted (from No. 6 to No. 4) today (on Tuesday) to carry the confidence of the last game (vs. Chennai Super Kings). And everyone had confidence in him that he will deliver today.”
The two sixes that Kings’ Ashutosh Sharma hit within the final over, with 29 wanted to win, had been palmed over the boundary by the fielders. Samad stated that it wouldn’t have been a detailed match, had these catches been taken.
Punjab Kings batsman Ashutosh Sharma in the course of the IPL T20 cricket match towards SRH on the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Punjab,
| Photo Credit:
R.V. MOORTHY
“We thought the match was a bit close because we missed two catches. Otherwise, we would have won the match by 15 runs or so.”
He acknowledged the openers’ (Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma’s) contribution in persistently getting Sunrisers off to a flying begin. “When you get a start of 70-80 runs in the PowerPlay, then it becomes easy for you. So, that is helping us a lot in winning the match.”
