Nitish Kumar Reddy aspires to script historic RCB-like comeback after breaching Chepauk

Nitish Kumar Reddy celebrated SRH's win over CSK and expressed hope for a comeback, drawing inspiration from RCB's 2024 campaign.

Nitish Kumar Reddy aspires to script historic RCB-like comeback after breaching Chepauk

SRH all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy expressed confidence in his side's ability to stage an RCB-like comeback (via Hindustan Times)

Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy reveled in his team’s victory against Chennai Super Kings. Now, he is aspiring to script a comeback to make a late push for the 2025 IPL playoffs. Reddy also referenced Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic 2024 IPL comeback. 

SRH managed to remain in contention for a place in the 2025 IPL play-offs, after securing a much-needed five-wicket victory over CSK. It interestingly marked the Orange Army’s first-ever win at Chepauk, a ground that they have failed to win at in the past. The result saw the 2024 IPL finalists climb to the eighth position on the table, with six points from nine matches, ending their two-match losing streak.

The visitors, opting to bowl first, managed to restrict CSK to a meagre first innings total of 154 runs. For the Men in Yellow, Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre were the only bright spots. The South African batter top-scored with a knock of 42 runs off 25 balls, while Mhatre scored 30 runs off 19 balls. For SRH, Harshal Patel scalped four wickets, while Jaydev Unadkat and Pat Cummins took two wickets each. 

Chasing the modest target of 155 runs, SRH did stumble at times, losing wickets at crucial junctures. Ishan Kishan looked to take his side close to victory with a 44 run knock off 34 balls, but fell to CSK’s Noor Ahmad in the 12th over of the match. However, a brilliant sixth wicket partnership of 49 runs, between Kamindu Mendis and Nitish Kumar Reddy helped SRH chase down the target in 18.4 overs. 

Speaking after the match, ‘NKR’ expressed contentment following his team’s victory against their southern rivals. Moreover, he also claimed that SRH would make it to the playoffs, despite the initial struggles this season. Hoping for a resurgence, the 21-year-old exclaimed that the Orange Army is in a do-or-die situation, and would need to win all their upcoming matches to remain in contention for the 2025 IPL title.

Last year, the same situation RCB came up and won 7 in a row. Why not us this year? It is putting in 100 per cent, and the rest we will see.

Nitish Reddy on SRH comeback (H/T News 18)

Reddy boldly predicted that his side would do the unthinkable by making a comeback similar to the one made by RCB in 2024. Not just Nitish Kumar Reddy, but SRH head coach Daniel Vettori had also referred to RCB’s historic 2024 IPL comeback, while urging his team to take inspiration from it. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, had in 2024, successfully made it to the playoffs by winning all of their last seven encounters. 

SRH will be hoping to do the same, when they next take on table-toppers Gujarat Titans. This encounter will happen a week later at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Meanwhile, for the Super Kings, they are still seeking to end their season on a high note, and will be hoping to secure a win against Punjab Kings, next. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s poor IPL form a point of concern for Indian selectors

One of the most exciting cricketing talents in the world, 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy has struggled to remain in form in the 2025 IPL season. In nine matches this season, Reddy has managed to score just 152 runs at an average of 21.71 and a poor strike rate of 113.43. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy form
Nitish Kumar Reddy has been enduring a rough patch in the IPL, this season. (via Cricket Addictor)

Despite being elevated to the number four position at SRH, Reddy has fallen short of the expectations. The 21-year-old is barely a shadow of his 2024 IPL self, when he scored 303 runs for the Orange Army at an average of 33.67 and a strike rate of 142.92. Moreover, he hasn’t bowled a single over this season. His form could spark concern among Indian selectors, who see him as successor to Hardik Pandya. 

Nonetheless, despite the struggles, the young Andhra-born player, who turned heads with a scintillating hundred against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, last year, remains a highly-rated player. He does have the ability to change games for his side. Rest of the season and his contribution for SRH in the latter games will present an idea on what lies ahead in his future.

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