Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra questioned Nitish Kumar Reddy’s form ahead of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s clash against Mumbai Indians on Thursday. While the opening duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma got back amongst the runs in the previous game against Punjab, Reddy’s form remains a concern for the Orange Army.
The youngster has scored 112 runs in five innings of IPL 2025 at an average of 22.40 and a strike rate of 119.14. Reddy had impressed one and all with his consistent performances in IPL 2024 but he has failed to replicate those renditions in the ongoing 18th season.
“The batting has come in form, but I am slightly worried about Nitish Kumar Reddy because he hasn’t scored runs, and the strike rate is also very low. He hasn’t done the job that you expect from him. Of course, he wasn’t needed in the last match as Abhishek Sharma alone shook the world,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra added that former MI opener Ishan Kishan, who now plays for SRH, will like the Wankhede track.
“So he wasn’t in focus that much, but the runs not coming from Nitish Kumar Reddy’s bat is a concern, and that needs to change. When Ishan Kishan comes here, he will remember that he used to be in the Mumbai team. He will like this pitch,” he observed.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma scored a stunning knock of 141 runs against PBKS in the last game. The renowned commentator recalled that the left-hander also scored a century against England in a T20I game earlier in the year.
“Hyderabad are coming after destroying the opposition in the last match. Abhishek Sharma scored a hundred. He also scored a hundred in the last match he played in Mumbai. He had thrashed England’s bowling. One or two balls had to be brought back from Marine Drive. It’s a team that is coming in with red-hot form from the batting point of view,” Chopra elaborated.
On the other hand, SRH fast bowler Mohammed Shami has struggled to find his A-game and conceded 75 runs in the four overs he bowled against PBKS.
“There are problems in Hyderabad’s bowling for sure. Mohammad Shami hasn’t hit top gear yet. Pat Cummins is leaking runs. Harshal Patel has been the only shining star with the ball. Zeeshan Ansari is alright. The bowling has not been that good. If you chased 245, you also conceded that,” he said in the same video.
Both MI and SRH have won two out of their six games.
