IPL 2026 Eliminator: James Franklin Says Nitish Kumar Reddy Has Bounced Back Strongly This Season
Nitish Kumar Reddy has emerged as a transformed allrounder in IPL 2026, giving Sunrisers Hyderabad the balance they lacked last season after a disappointing 2025 campaign. In IPL 2025, Reddy managed only 182 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate below 120, while an injury also restricted his bowling workload. This year, however, he has rebuilt his game by increasing his pace with the ball and sharpening his power-hitting, making him a more complete and flexible option for SRH.
Ahead of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals in New Chandigarh, pace-bowling coach James Franklin praised Reddy for responding strongly to the setbacks of last season. Franklin said Reddy had taken valuable lessons from IPL 2025, when expectations were high after his recent involvement with India but his start to the tournament fell short of what he had hoped. He noted that Reddy worked extensively on his bowling during the off-season and returned with a clearer role and better preparation.
Franklin explained that Reddy’s usage has changed significantly in IPL 2026. Rather than batting higher up the order as he did previously, he has often been sent in later in the innings, usually with only six or seven overs remaining. That adjustment has allowed him to play the role of a finisher more effectively, while also giving Sunrisers the flexibility to use him as a bowler in different phases of the match. Depending on the matchup, Reddy has been asked to open the bowling or operate in the middle overs, underlining his growing importance in the team’s plans.
Although Reddy has not scored heavily in terms of volume, he has made a strong impact with his strike rate and finishing ability. His aggressive batting has provided SRH with crucial momentum at the end of innings, helping them close out innings with greater intent. One of the standout numbers from his season is a strike rate of 215.87 between overs 16 and 20, which is the third-best among Indian batters in that phase of the IPL, behind only Tilak Varma and Rajat Patidar.
Franklin credited Reddy’s improvement to both natural athletic ability and disciplined preparation. He described the allrounder as physically strong, fast and dynamic, but also highlighted his professionalism away from the field. According to Franklin, Reddy has trained specifically for late-innings batting demands, preparing himself to enter under pressure and attack from the first delivery if required.
The coach said Reddy’s batting work has been shaped around the expectation that he will often come in with only a few overs left and may need to take immediate risks. That preparation has been evident throughout the tournament, with Reddy showing a better understanding of his role and the demands of the situation. After struggling last season, he has bounced back strongly in IPL 2026 and become one of SRH’s most valuable contributors.
