Irfan Pathan Highlights Nitish Reddy's Potential Role for Sunrisers Hyderabad
Ahead of the much-anticipated Indian Premier League 2026 season, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has identified a potential key player for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Pathan believes that young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy could play a pivotal role in stabilizing the team's batting lineup, particularly given their aggressive approach.
Reddy's Potential as the 'Glue' in Aggressive Lineup
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan elaborated on Reddy's potential contribution. "If he performs his role well, I think he can act as the glue in this unit, which is otherwise very ultra-aggressive," Pathan stated. "It will be interesting to see how Hyderabad counters this challenge."
Pathan's comments come as Sunrisers Hyderabad prepare to begin their campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. While attention naturally focuses on star players like Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, and Liam Livingstone, Pathan suggests Reddy could provide essential balance following a dip in form last season.
Analyzing Reddy's Performance Decline
The former cricketer provided detailed analysis of Reddy's statistical changes between the 2024 and 2025 seasons. "We saw that his numbers dropped compared to the previous year," Pathan observed. "In 2024, he scored more than 300 runs and had a good strike rate. But what happened last year? His runs almost halved to around 180, and his strike rate dropped to about 119."
Pathan emphasized that Reddy had ample opportunity to perform. "It is not like he was batting too low either. In about 7 out of 11 innings, he got opportunities around number four. So, he was unable to capitalize on those chances," he added, citing information from news agency ANI.
The statistics reveal a significant contrast:
- 2024 Season: Emerging Player of the Season award winner with 303 runs in 11 innings, including two fifties at a strike rate of 143, plus three wickets
- 2025 Season: 182 runs in 13 matches at an average of 22.75 and strike rate of approximately 119, with a highest score of 32 and two wickets
Impact of Pat Cummins' Injury Absence
Pathan also addressed the significant absence of Australian all-rounder Pat Cummins, who will miss the early part of the season due to injury. "His absence will definitely impact how the game is managed," Pathan stated. "When a young player comes under pressure, they tend to look towards a senior player for guidance. Not having him regularly in the dressing room at the start will also be difficult for Hyderabad."
The former India player elaborated on Cummins' multifaceted value to the team. "Pat Cummins not being there at the start is a big factor. His bowling and his captaincy have always been exceptional, and his leadership is often talked about. Last year, he matched Harshal Patel with 16 wickets. Even before that, he had taken 18 wickets in a season."
Pathan highlighted Cummins' batting contributions as well. "His batting is also very important. When he comes in around number eight, he can hit big shots, and the aggression that has been instilled in Hyderabad has largely come from Captain Cummins."
Ishan Kishan's Leadership Opportunity
With Cummins unavailable, Pathan identified Ishan Kishan as having a crucial leadership role. He referenced Kishan's impressive recent performances, particularly in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where he scored 517 runs in 10 matches with two centuries and two fifties while captaining Jharkhand to victory.
"This time, due to the absence of Pat Cummins, you'll get to see Ishan Kishan as the captain," Pathan said. "Ishan Kishan's graph is on an upward trajectory. While playing for Jharkhand in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he led the team as captain and lifted the trophy. Now, the responsibility will be on him."
Pathan connected Kishan's recent success to his World Cup contributions. "We also saw in the World Cup that he delivered outstanding batting performances. When a player has that kind of confidence, giving him the captaincy makes sense."
The cricket analyst acknowledged alternative captaincy discussions. "There were also discussions that Abhishek Sharma could be made captain. He has been appointed as vice-captain by Hyderabad, but it is better to go with Ishan Kishan," Pathan concluded, emphasizing Kishan's current form and leadership experience.
