NEW DELHI
As Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) prepares for their massive IPL 2026 opener against Bengaluru, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has identified Nitish Kumar Reddy as the vital “glue” for the team’s high-risk batting style. Pathan believes the young star is the only player who can balance a lineup filled with aggressive hitters like Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen.
Nitish, who was the 2024 Emerging Player of the Season, is looking for a comeback after a difficult 2025. His scoring dropped from 303 runs to just 182 last year, with his strike rate also falling significantly. Pathan pointed out that for SRH’s “ultra-aggressive” plan to work, someone must provide stability in the middle. If the big hitters fall early, Nitish’s role becomes the most important job on the field to prevent a total collapse.
The team faces an additional challenge with captain Pat Cummins missing the early stages due to injury. Pathan noted that Cummins’ leadership and aggressive bowling have defined SRH’s identity over the last two years. In his absence, the captaincy falls to Ishan Kishan, who recently led Jharkhand to a domestic trophy win and starred in the T20 World Cup.
While Abhishek Sharma will serve as vice-captain, Pathan backed Kishan as the logical leader for now. All eyes will be on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium this March 28 to see if Nitish can stabilize the ship while the new leadership steps up under pressure.
Nitish Reddy tapped as key Hyderabad glue
