- May 19, 2025
Do you guys remember the hype surrounding Nitish Kumar Reddy last season? He came in, a whirlwind of fearless intent, playing with flair, hitting boundaries, hitting with audacity and a strike rate that would send eyebrows flying. So, after last season, and quite understandably, great expectations were heading into this season. Fans wanted to see Reddy, at a bare minimum, show up and play at a high level, pretty much what any professional would be expected to do. It is indeed unclear what could be going on with Reddy 2.0. Could it be simple bad luck and the hassle of “2nd season syndrome,” or something more?
The “Second-Season Syndrome” Is Real
We’ve seen it before. A young talent comes onto the IPL stage with flair, and then, when the spotlight returns next season, they stumble. And right now, Nitish Kumar Reddy appears to be walking that very tightrope.
In your first season, it usually is a dream run – opponents don’t know your game, bowlers are still trying to test and stretch their skills, and the pressure is fairly low. Reddy’s fearless hitting thrived in that environment. But when we look at the second season, every team knows how to play against you. The bowlers know what areas to bowl to cramp his style. They have studied his wagon wheel, his strong zones, and have fed him length, he doesn’t like to hit!
And it’s showing as his strike rate is down, shot selection is confused, and that confidence he had from last year’s IPL tournament? It would appear to have made a dent. The mystery has worn off, and opponents aren’t surprised by what he brings to the table any longer!
The Weight of Expectations
We shouldn’t ignore the psychological aspect of all this. Reddy’s first season made him the poster boy for India’s bench strength – he was batting at a strike rate of over 150 and was equally destructive to spin and pace. So now, every time he walks out to bat, fans and franchises expect to see fireworks.
And that expectation can be a poison pill. Instead of factoring it all in and allowing the conditions to dictate the game, Reddy seems to be searching for a highlight reel. You can see the urgency in his game, almost as if he is trying to cram in all the hype in every delivery.
It has been noted on air by former players, too: he looks to be trying to force his game, rather than situationally trying to adapt. That’s a slippery slope, because when your form is down and you’re still trying to hit the pedal to the metal, your faults will come to the forefront.
Confidence, Conditions & a Learning Curve
To be fair to Reddy, things haven’t always been stacked in his favor this season. Conditions have made it tricky for stroke-makers early in the innings. Several pitches have been two-paced, even some of the bests have found it difficult to really time their strokes on occasion. This, mixed with his desire to make a point, made for an inconsistent year.
On the brighter side? It is still part of the learning curve. Reddy is just 20. These types of struggles usually serve as a stepping stone to something great. Players like KL Rahul or even Shubman Gill have gone through patches where they have looked lost. But the great one’s pivot. They take a season like this and use it to reinvent.
Will he catch his breath and pivot like those before him to graduate to the match-winner we think he can be? Or will the hype fade away too soon? This is not over yet. What do you think—can Nitish find his mojo again before this season is through?
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