NEW DELHI: Former India opener
Aakash Chopra
has showered praise on Sunrisers Hyderabad's emerging uncapped all-rounder,
Nitish Kumar Reddy
, following his stellar performance against Punjab Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024.
Nitish showcased his exceptional talent by smashing a breathtaking 64 off just 37 deliveries while also contributing with the ball by dismissing Jitesh Sharma and taking a crucial catch off Prabhsimran Singh.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra commended Nitish's impact on the game, especially considering Sunrisers' shaky start with the bat.
"The Hyderabad batting stumbled at the start. It seemed at one stage that even 150 might be difficult. However, Nitish Reddy. He was a net bowler with Chennai till last year...and here also he scored runs and decent runs," Chopra stated.
Highlighting the significance of Nitish's role as a finisher, Chopra underscored the evolving trend of Indian players excelling in the closing stages of T20 matches.
"The kid bats well. He has the might. In the first 15 years of this tournament, there were very few Indian finishers. That's why whoever can finish, his price at the auction goes through the roof. However, now you can see players like Rahul Tewatia, Shivam Dube, Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma. You can keep Nitish Kumar Reddy also on the same list," Chopra added.
Nitish's remarkable performance etched his name in IPL history as the first uncapped player to achieve the feat of scoring 50-plus runs, taking a wicket, and securing a catch in a single match. At just 20 years and 319 days old, he also became the second youngest player to register a half-century in the IPL, following
Priyam Garg
.
(With inputs from ANI)
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