Kolkata, April 3 – Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has credited a "special person" for helping him regain his rhythm after a challenging period marked by injuries, but he chose to keep the individual's identity private for now.
The 22-year-old, seen as a potential successor to Hardik Pandya, has faced recurring fitness issues over the past year, hindering his progress.
Injuries, including a neck spasm and a left quadriceps injury in 2025, prevented him from participating in crucial matches leading up to the 2026 T20 World Cup, where Shivam Dube eventually secured the second seam-bowling all-rounder spot.
Reddy acknowledged that injuries had impacted his bowling performance.
"I always wanted to improve my bowling, but last year's injuries made it difficult to focus on my training," Reddy said after being named the player of the match in their victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL match on Thursday.
"Thankfully, I had some time to train before the season started, and I did well with a specific person. Their guidance was very helpful."
When asked about the "special person," Reddy simply smiled and said, "I'll reveal that later."
The impact of this focused preparation was evident on Thursday, as Reddy delivered a strong all-round performance, scoring 39 off 24 balls and taking 2/17 in his two overs, helping SRH defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs and secure their first win of the season.
Reddy played a crucial role in the middle overs, scoring 39 off 24 balls and taking 2/17 in his two overs.
One of his victims was KKR vice-captain Rinku Singh, who fell to a well-executed slower ball.
"I thought the wicket was a bit too pacey, so I tried the slower balls," Reddy explained. "That's how I got Rinku's wicket."
Reddy also highlighted SRH's early adjustments to their bowling plans, bringing in spin after the pacers struggled in the powerplay.
"The KKR bowlers leaked runs in the first six overs, so we decided to use spin. The wicket was too pacey, and we thought that if the spinners could grip it, it would be effective," he said.
"You have to respect the conditions and adapt your plans accordingly. Ishan has done that very well," he added.
Reddy also praised Heinrich Klaasen, crediting the experienced South African for guiding him through a challenging period in their partnership.
"I enjoy playing with Klaasen because he is a very experienced player who understands the situation well," Reddy said.
"He gives you the confidence to execute your game plan in that particular situation. I know I'm young, but he has a lot of experience in T20 cricket, so his guidance is valuable."
Despite concerns about SRH's bowling lacking star names, Reddy strongly defended their attack, saying it is more effective than it appears on paper.
"We have experienced players like Jaydev Unadkat and Ehsan Mallinga who are doing well. And David Payne has also been performing well. So, I don't think our bowling attack is weak," he said.
"Especially when you're playing in Hyderabad, the wickets are flat, so you need to appreciate the bowlers who have been bowling well on these difficult pitches," he concluded.