Aakash Chopra Hails Nitish Kumar Reddy As The Best All-Rounder Of IPL 2026

Aakash Chopra praised Nitish Kumar Reddy’s all-round brilliance after SunRisers Hyderabad’s win over Punjab Kings in IPL 2026.

Former India batter Aakash Chopra heaped praise on Nitish Kumar Reddy after the youngster delivered an impressive all-round performance in SunRisers Hyderabad’s convincing victory against Punjab Kings in IPL 2026 on Wednesday, May 6.

Reddy made a strong impact with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 29 runs off just 13 deliveries to help SRH post a massive total of 235/5 in Hyderabad. He later contributed with the ball as well, returning with figures of 1/11 in his two overs as Punjab Kings were restricted to 202/7, handing SRH a comfortable 33-run victory.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former Indian opener highlighted how valuable the 22-year-old has been for the Hyderabad franchise this season.

“He is the best all-rounder of this tournament at the moment. No other all-rounder has scored 200 runs and taken five or more wickets. The team suddenly started looking weak when he missed a match. He was unwell, and the moment he comes back, looks brilliant,” he said on his YouTube channel.

Aakash Chopra Highlights Improvement in Nitish Kumar Reddy

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Chopra also pointed out the noticeable growth in Reddy’s bowling, especially his increase in pace and versatility across different phases of the innings.

The former cricketer explained that the youngster’s improvement has come through hard work and a conscious effort to develop his game further.

“He is bowling in different phases. Why does your pace increase? It’s because you feel you need to increase your pace. The pace won’t increase automatically. He realized he had to do something. So he worked for that and has come after increasing his pace,” he elaborated.

The commentator further praised Reddy’s ability to contribute both with the new ball and during the middle overs.

“He bowls seam-up deliveries in the Powerplay and picks up crucial wickets. He gives one or two overs in the middle overs as well. He has been consistently performing and contributing,” Chopra observed.

Nitish Kumar Reddy making a strong case for Team India

During the discussion, Aakash Chopra also reflected on Reddy’s batting development and his growing maturity as a player in recent seasons.

The analyst recalled how highly he had rated the all-rounder during his early years with SunRisers Hyderabad and stated that the youngster is now beginning to fulfill his potential consistently.

“As regards his batting, all of us know, and I might have said two or three years ago that Nitish Kumar Reddy was a great pick for the SunRisers Hyderabad. However, it has taken time to reach here. We saw in Melbourne in the Boxing Day Test match that he can bat well,” he said.

Chopra believes the all-rounder is now making a serious push for a regular place in India’s white-ball setup.

“So he is a good player, but maturity, consistency, and regular performances have come to the fore a little more this season, and, therefore, I think he is making a case not just to select him but to play him in white-ball cricket and give him a little more responsibility,” Chopra observed.

The former batter concluded by saying that India have long searched for a player capable of filling the role similar to Hardik Pandya, and while Reddy still has some way to go, he is steadily moving in the right direction.

NKR’s Rise As An All-Rounder For SRH

Nitish Kumar Reddy has emerged as a vital all-rounder for Sunrisers Hyderabad because of his ability to contribute in multiple departments consistently. Since joining the franchise, he has shown steady growth with the bat, scoring 707 runs in 38 IPL matches at a strike rate of 141.97.

His breakthrough season came in 2024 when he scored 303 runs at an average of 33.67 and a strike rate of 142.92, including two half-centuries. In IPL 2026, he has elevated his game further with an explosive strike rate of 166.92 while continuing to provide finishing ability in the middle order.

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Alongside his batting, Nitish has become a dependable seam-bowling option, picking up 12 wickets overall and bowling in different phases of the innings. His willingness to bowl tough overs in the Powerplay and middle overs gives SRH crucial balance, allowing the team to play with greater flexibility.