'It's a learning for him' - Daniel Vettori backs Nitish Kumar Reddy after middling IPL 2025

Daniel Vettori spoke about Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had a middling IPL 2025 season, after being one of the key players in SRH's lineup in the IPL 2024. The SRH head coach claimed that it can be challenging for a youngster to maintain form playing in batting positions like numbers 4 and 5, where scoring runs at a good rate can be tough.

Vettori believed that Reddy, at his best, can build the innings from bad situations and capitalize on the same by accelerating well both against spin and pace. Vettori did not look deep into Nitish's failure in the IPL 2025 and believed it to be an off-season. He claimed the star all-rounder is too good a player not to be able to bounce back.

"It’s always tricky to play that role at No. 4 or 5. But we know that Nitish, when he’s at his best, builds his innings and can then capitalise at the end against pace and spin. So I think it is just one of those seasons that’s a little bit of a learning for him, but he’s too good a player not to bounce back," said Vettori in the press conference after SRH's win against KKR.

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'It was purely down to injury' - Daniel Vettori on Nitish Kumar Reddy bowling less

In their last few matches of the season, especially since the resumption of the league, SRH looked like a side that could hamper the chances of their opponents. They indeed pulled off some scares by beating RCB and KKR in their last two matches to end the season on a high. 

In the same media interaction, Vettori claimed that Reddy could not bowl due to a side strain before the IPL 2025.

"He brought a side-strain into the tournament, and then it was just a slow, meticulous build-up. It was purely down to injury," added Vettori.

The emerging all-rounder scored just 182 runs in 11 innings at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 118.95. He is picked for India's tour of England and will hope to continue his good run in Tests.