SRH Schedule IPL 2025: Sunrisers Hyderabad will be entering the new Indian Premier League season hoping to go one better, after finishing runners-up in IPL 2024. Led by Pat Cummins, the men in orange and black looked rejuvenated in 2024, with the opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma proving to be the deadliest opening pair in the tournament. Those three, alongside Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Reddy, form a strong core retained by SRH. They also boosted their roster in the IPL 2025 mega auction with the acquistions of Mohammed Shami and Ishan Kishan among others.

Here is Sunrisers Hyderabad’s IPL 2025 schedule in full:

SRH vs RR – 3:30 PM IST –  March 23 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

SRH vs LSG – 7:30 PM IST – March 23 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

DC vs SRH – 3:30 PM IST – March 30 – Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

KKR vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – April 3 – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

SRH vs GT – 7:30 PM IST – April 6 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

SRH vs PBKS – 7:30 PM IST – April 12 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

MI vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – April 17 – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

SRH vs MI – 7:30 PM IST – April 23 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

CSK vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – April 25 – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

GT vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – May 2 – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

SRH vs DC – 7:30 PM IST – May 5 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

SRH vs KKR – 7:30 PM IST – May 10 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

RCB vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – May 13 – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

SRH vs LSG – 7:30 PM IST – May 18 – Ekana Stadium, Lucknow

The recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia was no less than a nightmare for Team India. Despite winning the opening Test by a whopping total of 295 runs, the visitors lost the five-match series 1-3. With this loss, Team India also failed to reach the World Test Championship final as Australia and South Africa will be playing the match to clinch the ICC title. Despite being on the losing side, India also had a big positive like Nitish Kumar Reddy, who slammed a century on his debut tour.

Reddy impressed everyone with his brilliant century in the fourth Test in Melbourne. The entire country, including the likes of Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar, celebrated Reddy’s ton.

As the series has now concluded, the 21-year-old all-rounder visited the holy place of Tirupati temple and shared some glimpses.

Taking to his Instagram, Reddy shared a video on his story, where he showed his devotion by climbing the stairs of Tirupati temple on his knees.

Nitish Kumar Reddy climbing stairs of Tirupati after scoring ton in his debut series. The peace is in the feet of Govinda pic.twitter.com/23xKmNOpaC

— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) January 13, 2025

Earlier, Reddy received a hero’s welcome on arrival at the airport in his hometown Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

After exiting the Visakhapatnam airport, Nitish received a big yellow garland from excited fans and yellow petals were showered on him amidst cameras trying to capture the best view.

Nitish, who resides in Gajwuaka in Visakhapatnam, then sat in the front seat of an open jeep, with his father Mutyalu behind in the vehicle and fans standing nearby to have a glimpse of the all-rounder.

In five matches, Nitish scored 298 runs at an average of 37.25, making him India’s second-highest run-getter in the series. His knock of 114 – a maiden Test century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – was the standout moment of the tour, especially with it coming when his father Mutyalu Reddy, mother Manasa, sister Tejaswi and uncle Surendra were in attendance at the iconic venue.

With the ball, Nitish picked five wickets off 44 overs, with his best figures being 2-32.

(With IANS Inputs)

Karnataka’s Prasidh Krishna, Devdutt Padikkal and Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar will be available for the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockout matches, starting in Vadodara from Thursday, after featuring in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. However, KL Rahul, who played all the five Test matches against the Aussies, has requested for a break and will skip the Hazare knockouts. Rahul’s availability for the second phase of the Ranji Trophy, beginning on January 23, will be decided at a later date. India head coach Gautam Gambhir had recently expressed his desire to see frontline Indian players making themselves available for the remainder of the premier domestic red-ball tournament.

Washington, though, could link up with Tamil Nadu only if the team progresses to the semifinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

He played three matches and made 114 runs with a fifty but bowled just 37 overs across those Tests as pacers were preferred because of the conditions. The off-spinner took just three wickets.

Prasidh will be high on confidence after making a good impression in the fifth Test at Sydney, where the pacer grabbed six Australian wickets — 3/42 in the first innings and 3/65 in the second essay.

Devdutt played just one Test match at Perth, primarily because skipper Rohit Sharma stayed back in India to welcome his second baby.

The left-hander made a zero and 25 in India’s 295-run win at Perth but was not selected for any of the other four Test matches.

The 24-year-old was in terrific form prior to leaving for Australia for the India A tour, smashing four First-Class hundreds across Duleep Trophy and in the first leg of the Ranji Trophy.

Both Prasidh and Devdutt are scheduled to join the Karnataka squad on January 10, a day ahead of their quarterfinal match against Baroda at Vadodara.

Nitish to play Ranji

Nitish Kumar Reddy too will fly out of Australia on Wednesday but he will not be seen in action immediately as Andhra has not progressed to the knockout stage.

However, Nitish, who impressed everyone with his gutsy batting Down Under including a hundred at Melbourne, is likely to play in the second phase of the Ranji Trophy.

He has played only one match this season before travelling to Australia.

Andhra has two matches left this season against Puducherry from January 23 and against Rajasthan from January 30.

They are currently placed seventh in Elite Group B with four points after three defeats and two draws from five matches.

After India’s defeat in the final Test match and their inability to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar has assessed the team’s performance and opined that young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Reddy, who are “hungry to earn a name for India” are needed in the team. Jaiswal has amassed 391 runs in five Tests, out of which 161 came in his brilliant second innings knock in the series opener in Perth, where India won by 295 runs. However, he had a brief period of struggle before scoring 82 and 84 in the Melbourne Test. On the other hand, Reddy scored 298 runs in nine innings across five matches. He started off with handy knocks of 41, 38 not out on his Test debut. He further scored 42, 42 before bettering it with a maiden Test century in Melbourne, providing a much-needed contribution from the lower order.

“If we talk about the macro picture, like we saw with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Yashasvi Jaiswal – they are hungry. They are hungry to earn a name for India. They are hungry to earn a name for themselves. Such players are needed. You need such players who will protect their wicket like their life. You need such players. You can play with them on stroke. But the commitment I want to see.

“That’s why I’m interested that on January 23, in the Ranji Trophy matches, who will play? I want to see that. Because at that time, there will be T20 matches against England. But those who are not playing T20, will they play Ranji Trophy matches or not?” said Gavaskar to Star Sports.

Further speaking on India’s batting shortcomings in the series, Gavaskar highlighted, “How many Indian players have scored centuries? Except for the first Test match with two centuries, there is only the century of Nitish Kumar Reddy. How many players made half-centuries?

“You can say it is not easy to make a century, but how many players made half-centuries and tried to turn the match? It did not happen because the application that is required in Test cricket – the application and determination – was very low.”

India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series loss followed the home series 3-0 defeat to New Zealand. The veteran shared his thoughts on what Team India can do after their poor performance in Test matches over the last few months.

“What I saw were technical deficiencies. If you have been making the same mistakes, and I am not just talking about this series—I am talking about the New Zealand series as well—what did you do against New Zealand in India? And that’s why, now, because the next cycle will start in June, we have not qualified for the World Test Championship. From now on, we should be ready for it. If we have to take tough decisions, then we will have to take them,” he said.

Gavaskar further insisted that players should have no excuse for skipping domestic cricket, pointing out that the Ranji Trophy matches begin on January 23. He added that coach Gautam Gambhir would need to make some tough decisions regarding players who are unavailable for the tournament.

“Today is January 5. On January 23, there is the next round of the Ranji Trophy. Let’s see how many players from this squad play. Let’s see how many people are available. And there should be no excuse for not being able to play.

“If you do not play those matches, then I say that Gautam Gambhir will have to take a few tough decisions against those who are not available for the Ranji Trophy, saying, ‘You do not have that commitment. We need commitment. You are not playing. Whatever you want to do, do it. But for Indian cricket, you cannot return to the Test squad,” he said.

India will next play three ODIs and five T20Is against England at home from January 22 to February 12.

Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson termed India’s inability to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy as “unfortunate” but said the ICC showpiece will offer star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma a chance to liberate themselves from a prolonged form slump. The global governing body has adopted the ‘Hybrid’ model for this edition of the CT with India scheduled to play its matches at a neutral venue in Dubai.

“It’s unfortunate that things have worked out that way for sure. But there’s no doubt that what everyone loves seeing — the India-Pakistan games. Whenever they come together, whether it’s an ICC event, it is a really special time because we’ve got a sense of what’s on the line,” Watson told the media here during the Champions Trophy Tour.

“It’s unfortunate that India aren’t travelling to Pakistan for this Champions Trophy. But, unfortunately, that’s just the way it is right now,” he added.

Watson said the CT offers cricket a fresh context, breaking the long lull of four years between two ODI World Cups.

“The CT is a critically important tournament in world cricket because the One Day World Cup is only once in every four years. It is great because it breaks up those four years,” he noted.

The 43-year-old also said the CT keeps the ODI format alive amidst the rightful prominence Test cricket receives and the upsurge of T20s.

“You keep giving one-day cricket the energy that it needs because it is a great game. It’s a great format. It provides that balance between Test cricket and T20 cricket.

“We never want to lose the format of one-day cricket, but there needs to be context as often as possible. And the CT certainly provides that.” “When you play a CT where there’s only eight teams, there is something riding on every ball. And as a team, you have to hit the ground sprinting. Otherwise, you’ll be out like it was for the Australian team in 2013.” Then defending champions Australia had finished at the bottom of Group A with a solitary win and crashed out of the tournament, which India won eventually under MS Dhoni.

Current form no worry for Rohit, Kohli

Both Rohit and Kohli were part of that victory in England 12 years back, but now these two superstars are finding it tough to make big runs as they did in the past.

But Watson was not worried over the Indians’ patchy form for talks surrounding their retirement.

“I don’t think it (current poor form) will really play a part at all with Rohit Sharma and Virat’s impact in one-day cricket. It’s going to be different conditions where they’re playing in Dubai. One-day cricket does really free them both as well,” said Watson.

He placed his faith in Kohli’s extraordinary ODI numbers — 295 ODIs, 13906 runs, Average: 58.18 with 50 hundreds and 72 fifties.

“Kohli is an absolute master of one-day cricket.” “Yes, he’s a master of all formats, but especially ODIs. You see his extraordinary numbers over a long period of time, averaging around 57 and a strike rate of 93 over a long period of time. It’s crazy to think the control that he has over his innings.” Watson said Rohit could be back to his best in ODIs.

“We’ll see that again in the Champions Trophy. Rohit, like we saw in the one-day World Cup (2023), when he was at his very best, he was taking on the game.

“It’s more difficult to be able to do that in Test cricket. He hasn’t been able to find that balance here in Australia. But when he goes out for the batting in one-days, he lets loose. That’s when we see the very best of Rohit Sharma.” “So I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t perform really well in the Champions Trophy, knowing that he probably doesn’t have a lot of time left, whatever that is, but a lot of time left in international cricket. So I’m sure he’ll let the handbrake off,” he added.

Pat for Nitish Kumar Reddy

Watson said Nitish Kumar Reddy who made a hundred in the Boxing Day Test, will have to improve as a bowler to realise his full potential as an all-rounder.

“It’s exciting to see a young all-rounder coming through, be able to do what he did in the IPL just from a batting perspective. (because of) The impact player, which is sort of one of the rules that I don’t particularly like…someone like Reddy didn’t get an opportunity to be able to really bowl much.

“But now we’re seeing it in Test cricket and he will fit beautifully into one-day cricket and T20 cricket because of the versatility he provides. He’s got all the gears from a batting perspective and his bowling is only going to get better the more exposure he gets,” he concluded.

World cricket witnesses plenty of talent emerge every year. While some talents turn out to be one-match or one-series wonders, plenty of them still end up instilling hope in fans for another generation of enthralling cricketing action, game-changing skillsets and performances. 2024 was no different as plenty of seasoned veterans called curtains on their career and a new generation is taking shape with every passing day.

Asia continues to produce some of the most promising talent in the world, two of which could form the future generation of ‘Fab Four’ batters, replacing legendary names like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root and Kane Williamson, who are in the final stages of their career. Some promising talent have also been unearthed from England as they seek to rebuild following disappointing runs in the ICC World Test Championship, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

New Zealand and West Indies also saw some talent making a name for themselves amid largely disappointing ICC World Test Championship and T20 World Cup outings. With the ICC Champions Trophy to be held early this year and almost every major team in a transitional phase, expect these young talents to finally show what they are truly made of.

Here are some fine talents who had a breakout year in 2024:

Tristan Stubbs (South Africa)

The big-hitting Protean, who captured everyone’s attention with a 28-ball 72 against England back in 2022, could not convert his versatility and talent into consistency. The year 2024 marked a complete turnaround in fortunes for the youngster who can switch gears with the bat effortlessly, bowl some useful off-break spin and keep wickets.

During Cricket South Africa (CSA) domestic four-day competition Division 1, he compiled a triple century for Warriors against KwaZulu-Natal Inland, making 302* in 372 balls, with 37 fours and six sixes. Not only did he stay unbeaten for such a marathon effort, but also showed that red-ball cricket is just as safe as a T20 match for a modern-day batter to apply their audacity and stroke range truly.

Stubbs also did a phenomenal job in franchise leagues, starring in Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) second successive SA20 title win with 301 runs in nine innings at an average of 60.20, a strike rate of over 168 and three half-centuries, top-scoring for the team. A much-better outing took place in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Delhi Capitals (DC), scoring 378 runs in 13 innings at an average of 54.00, a strike rate of 190.00 and three fifties and taking three wickets.

Coming to international cricket, Stubbs is displaying a diverse array of strokes and ability to shift from one format to the other not seen since the days of AB de Villiers. Both his reverse ramps, sweeps and marathon Test knocks remind fans of their most beloved cricketer and they look at him as a heir apparent to ‘Mr 360′. A middle-order batter in white-ball who can finish with some fireworks, Stubbs is shaping up to be Proteas’ next ever-reliable number three batter who can weather any storm.

In 33 international matches in 2024 year, he has made 1,173 runs at an average of 39.10, with three centuries and three fifties in 37 innings. His best score is 122*.

Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)

Since the retirements of legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, the Lankan Lions have been looking for someone who can replicate the hunger for runs these generational superstars of the ‘Golden Age’ and tire out the opposition with their determination and ability to soak up balls.

Kamindu it seems, meets this profile perfectly. While he has delivered very few notable performances in white-ball cricket, his Test form suggests that it is only a matter of time before the left-handed finds comfort in coloured clothing too.

In nine Tests in 2024, Kamindu took the cricketing world by storm due to his unbelievable conversion rate, scoring 1,049 runs in 16 innings at an average of 74.62, a strike rate of over 66. He scored five centuries and three fifties, with the best score of 182*.

He tied with legendary Aussie batter Don Bradman as the second-fastest player to reach 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings. Kamindu also scored a fifty-plus score in eight successive Tests, which also were the first eight of his career, becoming the first player to do so.

Overall in 33 matches and 36 innings last year, he made 1,451 runs at an average of 50.03, with five centuries and five fifties, with best score of 182*.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)

After having made a century on his Test debut, Jaiswal showcased immense promise in both the longest and shortest format of the game in 2023. But last year, the left-hander went a notch further, making his wicket a highly coveted one at the age of just 23.

Jaiswal started off 2024 with a blockbuster series at home against England, top-scoring with 712 runs in five matches and nine innings at an average of 89.00, with two double centuries and three fifties, making a mockery of legendary James Anderson. While a mixed IPL 2024 season followed, with 435 runs at an average of 31 with just one century and fifty in 15 innings, he later went on to be a part of the ICC T20 World Cup-winning Indian squad, bringing the cup back home after 17 years.

In later Test tours against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia, Jaiswal grind it out against some of the world’s best bowlers in difficult conditions when the rest of the team was not in their best form, particularly seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat. To a large extent, he has succeeded, top-scoring for India in international cricket this year, with 1,771 runs in 23 matches and 37 innings at an average of 52.08, with three tons and 11 fifties.

A major highlight knock was against Australia at Perth, a marathon knock of 161 runs during which he took the Aussies to cleaners, indulging in audacious hitting and banter against Mitchell Starc. He is India’s highest run-getter in the series so far, with 359 runs in four Tests, one century and two fifties at an average of above 51.

Jamie Smith (England)

After a poor series against India, in which ‘Bazball’ approach of England cricket was defeated by Jasprit Bumrah, Indian spinners and skipper Rohit Sharma-led batch of youngsters, England had a Jonny Bairstow-sized hole to fill, who was failed by the philosophy of attacking ‘see ball, hit ball’ cricket that also gave him one of his career’s best patches.

Enter Jamie during the season-starting series against West Indies. The 24-year-old proved to be quite an upgrade over Bairstow, offering not only a fast scoring rate, brute six hitting, but also a fine ability to bat with tailenders. In nine Tests, he scored 637 runs in 15 innings at an average of 42.46, with a strike rate of 72.30. He scored a century and four fifties, with best score of 111.

In seven ODIs as well, he has made 133 runs at an average of 22.16, with best score of 49 in six innings.

In 18 first-class matches last year, Jamie scored 1,314 runs at an average of 48.66, with a strike rate of above 74, with three centuries and nine fifties in 27 innings. His best score is 155 while playing for Surrey.

Jacob Bethell (England)

England has a fine pool of all-round talent across all forms of the game, with 21-year-old, blonde-haired Jacob Bethell being the latest edition to it. Within four months, the youngster made his debut across all formats for Three Lions and has the makings of a future star, averaging above 50 in Tests and T20Is so far.

Handed a debut in the New Zealand Test series without a first-class cricket century, Bethell proved his doubters wrong with some audacious strokeplay and level-headed temper beyond his age, smashing three half-centuries in the series which England won.

Overall in 18 international matches and 19 innings, Bethell has made 600 runs, averaging 42.00 and with a strike rate of over 91. He has scored six fifties so far with the best score of 96. With his useful spin bowling, Bethell has also taken seven wickets, with best figures of 3/72.

Bethell came into the team after a brilliant T20 Blast season with Warwickshire, making 361 runs in 12 innings at an average of 36.10 and a strike rate of above 153, with four half-centuries. His best score was 71*. He also took six wickets at an average of 14.33.

After his initial international exploits, a good run with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who got him for Rs 2.6 crore in the auction, will only expand Bethell’s repute as a serious hitter and help him develop a massive fanbase.

Saim Ayub (Pakistan)

Amid conversations of players like Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan dragging Pakistan cricket down with a highly conservative, milestone-oriented brand of cricket, this left-handed stroke player in his early 20s could very well be the answer to his nation’s needs.

Some strong outings in Pakistan Super League (PSL) with Peshawar Zalmi in 2023 and 2024 and a breakout Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season with Guyana Warriors in 2023 with 478 runs and four half-centuries in 13 matches, averaging 43.45, striking at over 142, Ayub was handed his debut in 2023.

Despite averaging just above 17 and striking at 123 with no fifty in his first eight T20Is, Ayub was not binned. Rather, he received a strong backing from seniors. The result is a breakout year in 2024, with notable moments across all formats.

In 35 international matches last year, Ayub has scored 1,254 runs at an average of 33.00, a strike rate of over 89, with three centuries and five fifties in 41 innings and his best score being 113*. He has outdone star batter Babar (1,134 runs in 35 matches with eight fifties) and is the second-highest run-getter for Pakistan.

It is his ODI stats that look the most attractive. In nine matches, he has made 515 runs at an average of 64.37, with a strike rate of above 105. He has scored three centuries and a fifty, with the best score of 113*, with two of them coming in South Africa that paved the way for a landmark clean sweep for Pakistan under Rizwan.

Abhishek Sharma (India)

For long, India have prayed for an aggressive, throw-bat-on-everything opener who can maximize the powerplay. In a fresh and welcome change from accumulating ways of the past by Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, this 24-year-old opener from Punjab has the talent and hitting to dismantle any bowling attack.

After a breakthrough, title-winning Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) for Punjab in 2023 (485 runs in 10 matches with a strike rate of over 192.46, two centuries and three fifties), Abhishek truly unlocked and showcased his six-hitting during IPL 2024, forming a successful opening duo with Australia’s Travis Head that tore apart many records in the league.

Abhishek was Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) second-highest run-getter and overall 10th, with 484 runs at an average of 32.26, with three half-centuries in 16 innings, a best score of 75* and a strike rate of above 204. His six count of 42 was also the highest in the tournament and he overtook legendary Virat Kohli’s record for most sixes by an Indian in a single IPL.

Since then, he has made his international debut with his first series being against Zimbabwe after IPL, in which he smashed a quickfire ton within 47 balls. However, his returns have been inconsistent, standing at 256 runs in 11 innings at an average of 23.27, a strike rate of over 171, with a century and a fifty and just three scores of 20 or more.

Shining bright in T20s, he ended 2024 as India’s second-highest run-scoring batter in the format with 1,129 runs in 38 innings at an average of 31.36, with strike rate of 198.07, two centuries and six fifties. His best score was 106*.

While Abhishek has a long way to go in other formats and even in T20s with regards to consistency, performance against pacers and grounded game, India should invest in him as their next opener as he could very well be their best bet for leading a new, attack-oriented generation of T20Is, where scoring rates and sixes are top two priorities.

Gus Atkinson (England)

Though Gus Atkinson got some white-ball experience in 2023 ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in India, the young pacer truly arrived last year when he was included in the West Indies series.

The home series against West Indies was the farewell series for legendary James Anderson, who retired after the first Test at Lords’ bringing his career to full circle. In a passing-of-touch performance, Atkinson took the baton from the 42-year-old, taking 12 wickets in his debut Test, taking not one, but two five-wicket hauls in a Test innings at Lord’s, a ten-wicket match haul. Later, during the Sri Lanka series, he scored an attacking 118 in 115 balls, with 14 fours and four sixes, becoming the part of elite company to take a five-wicket haul, ten-wicket haul and a century at Lord’s.

Later, during the New Zealand series away from home, a hat-trick made him the fastest player to secure a five-wicket haul, ten-fer, century and hat-trick in Tests in just 10 Tests.

Now in 11 Tests this year, Atkinson took 52 wickets at an average of 22.15, with best figures of 7/45. He secured three five-wicket hauls and one ten-fer. With the bat, he has made 352 runs in 16 innings, averaging 23.46, with a century to his name. His strike rate is 79.10.

William O’Rourke (New Zealand)

With the golden generation of Kiwi pacers: Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Matt Henry slowly riding into the sunset, Kiwis have a worthy heir to these stars in the form of William O’Rourke, the 23-year-old, six-foot-six inch tall pacer who took 40 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 24.45, with best figures of 5/34. He took two five-wicket hauls this year, against South Africa and Sri Lanka. Also, a very crucial spell of his, figures of 4/22 against India in Bengaluru set up the tone for Kiwi’s first-ever series win in India and India’s first Test series loss at home in 12 years, a historic 0-3 whitewash. In 10 Tests, he took 36 wickets at an average of 24.80.

Nitish Kumar Reddy (India)

The 21-year-old all-rounder’s rise has been one of the heartwarming stories of last year. With his parents, particularly his father, sacrificing heavily on personal and professional front for their son’s cricket, Reddy has paid them back in plenty during his first few months as an international player.

After a breakout IPL 2024 season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring 303 runs in 13 matches with two fifties and taking three wickets, Nitish made his India debut against Bangladesh in October, slamming 74 of 34 balls, with four boundaries and seven sixes in his second match.

After being selected into the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite his inexperience and not-so-exciting red-ball stats, he proved his doubters wrong with a dream series so far, having made 294 runs in four matches and seven innings at an average of 49.00 and three wickets, including some fiery cameos and a memorable century at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the Boxing Day Test with his family watching him from the stands.

Whether Nitish emerges as a strong pace-bowling all-round backup to Hardik Pandya is something only time will tell, but there is a lot of promise.

File photo of Nitish Reddy.© AFP

File image of Nitish Reddy.© AFP

File photo of Nitish Reddy.© AFP