Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has urged Sunrisers Hyderabad to assign a defined bowling role to Nitish Kumar Reddy amid the ongoing IPL 2026. Reddy has been used by Ishan Kishan at different stages in the ongoing tournament.

The medium pacer had opened the innings in the opening game against RCB and he was then used in the middle overs. Reddy has scalped four wickets in six matches at an average of 30 and an economy rate of 9.23.

“I have only one request for you, although you will sort out the batting, not a problem, whether it’s Abhishek Sharma or Ishan Kishan, and eventually Travis Head will score runs at some stage. Then Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy, but define Nitish Kumar Reddy’s role as a bowler,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Chopra wants SRH’s think tank to promote Nitish Kumar Reddy in the batting order. Reddy has scored 136 runs in six matches of the ongoing season.

“Even in batting, don’t hesitate to send him up the order. Only those two things are there. You have given Nitish Kumar Reddy the new ball thrice and didn’t give him the new ball thrice. A little role clarity is required there. He is able to bowl with more pace now. Either give him this role or that role. It remains a puzzle at times if he is somewhere in the middle,” he added.

Chopra expressed his surprise after SRH demoted Reddy down the order against the Punjab Kings.

The former KKR batter said it doesn’t make sense to use Liam Livingstone as an impact player at the business end of the innings.

“If you have to use Liam Livingstone, do it slightly earlier, because there is no advantage of using him in the 18th or 19th over. Then it’s better to sacrifice him. Then bring in Dilshan Madushanka. You might see Madushanka playing in this game,” he said.

SRH will host DC in Hyderabad on Tuesday.