Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy dismissed the notion that their bowling unit lacks strength after a commanding win over Kolkata Knight Riders. Following SRH’s dominant performance at Eden Gardens, Reddy insisted that the perception around their bowling attack is misleading.
SRH had come into the game under scrutiny after theirIPL-2026-rcb-vs-srh-score-virat-kohli-jacob-duffy-bengaluru-title-defence-2888539-2026-03-28″ target=”_blank”> bowlers were taken apart by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who chased down 202 with ease. However, speaking in the post-match press conference after SRH’s emphatic response, Reddy stressed that the bowling unit has always been strong, even if overshadowed by their explosive batting.
KKR vs SRH, IPL 2026: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
“Sorry to say, sir, but the bowling unit is not as weak as you think. On paper, as you said, there are experienced players like Jaydev Unadkat and Ishan Malinga who are doing really well, and Payne has also been very good. So I don’t think we have a weak bowling side.
“It’s just that the brand of cricket we’ve been playing and the scores we’ve put on the scoreboard make it seem like the batting is very strong, but I would rate my bowling unit equally highly. They’ve been very good in that department, especially when playing in Hyderabad. Those wickets are quite flat, and you should appreciate the bowlers who have performed in those conditions because it’s never easy.
“Even in such situations, the bowling unit has managed to defend, and you could see the result today. So we have done well as a bowling unit. I wouldn’t say we were weak on paper, but our batting is so explosive that it might give that impression.”
SRH’s performance against KKR marked a sharp turnaround. After putting up a strong total, they bowled out KKR for 161 in just 16 overs to secure a 65-run win, boosting both their net run rate and confidence early in the season.
The chase had briefly looked competitive, especially with Angkrish Raghuvanshi anchoring the innings, but his run-out for 52 shifted the momentum decisively. From there, SRH tightened their grip, with Reddy himself removing Anukul Roy before dismissing Rinku Singh in quick succession to break the backbone of KKR’s chase.
HOW SRH BOWLERS STEPPED UP VS KKR
SRH’s bowlers delivered a collective effort, stepping up in different phases of the innings to defend a challenging total. Jaydev Unadkat led the charge with 3 for 21 in his three overs, using his variations effectively at the death.
Eshan Malinga, who had an off day in the previous match, bounced back strongly with figures of 2 for 14 in two overs, picking up key wickets and maintaining control. Harsh Dubey also made an impact with 1 for 17 in his two overs, removing Finn Allen at a crucial stage when the KKR opener was threatening to take the game away.
Reddy’s own spell of 2 for 17 in two overs proved decisive in the middle phase, as he dismissed both Rinku Singh and Anukul Roy to halt any hopes of a comeback. While David Payne went for 35 in his two overs, the rest of the attack ensured that KKR never recovered from the early setbacks.
The disciplined effort highlighted SRH’s depth with the ball, countering the long-held perception that their strength lies only in batting. On a surface where chasing 226 required composure and clarity, SRH’s bowlers delivered with control, variation and timely breakthroughs to seal a comprehensive win.
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