What binds Sunrisers Hyderabad’s explosive batting engine and a bowling attack that has stubbornly held its own on unforgiving surfaces? Nitish Kumar Reddy. Perhaps the only player who truly straddles both worlds.

His absence against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) exposed exactly how vital he is to SRH’s balance. The team missed not just his finishing ability with the bat, but also the control and versatility he offers with the ball – whether with the new ball upfront or through the middle overs.

So when he returned from illness against Punjab Kings, the relief within the Sunrisers camp was palpable. The thinktank no longer needed to redraw plans or reshuffle combinations; equilibrium had returned.

SRH’s top order has understandably grabbed the spotlight this season. Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen have piled up a combined 1,739 runs. On the bowling front, Eshan Malinga leads the charts with 12 wickets, followed by Sakib Hussain (10), while Shivang Kumar, Harsh Dubey and Praful Hinge have chipped in with eight apiece.

And then there is Nitish — quietly occupying the space between those two departments, yet central to both. His 222 runs have come at a strike rate of 166.91, while his seven wickets have arrived at an economy of 10.39 in a tournament where bowlers have routinely been sent on leather hunts.

Against Punjab Kings, he once again underlined his value. A rapid 29 off just 13 balls gave SRH added momentum in the death before he returned to dismiss the seemingly unstoppable Prabhsimran Singh. He ended the night with impressive figures too – two overs, one wicket, and just 11 runs conceded.

SRH’s assistant coach admitted the side is a different proposition when Nitish is available and contributing in both disciplines.

“Any team will always say that they function better when they have got an all-rounder who’s playing well and contributing both with bat and ball. And that’s exactly what Nitish is doing at the moment. He’s confident, he’s playing really well with the bat, he’s showing great intent as soon as he comes out with the bat.”

“And then the bowling as well. He’s just nudged his pace up (from the mid 120s to upper 130s) this season. He’s swinging the new ball when he’s getting that opportunity to bowl in the PowerPlay and he’s creating opportunities.”

For all the debate around the Impact Player rule supposedly sounding the death knell for genuine all-rounders in the IPL, Nitish has become a compelling counterargument. He is not merely surviving in this format – he is shaping matches from multiple fronts.

SRH’s title ambitions this season will rest on several pillars, but few may prove as crucial as the 22-year-old. Sometimes, a player’s true worth is not measured in the runs he scores or the wickets he takes, but in the void he leaves behind when he is missing.

For Sunrisers, Nitish has become exactly that presence — the thread that quietly binds together a side built on explosive batting and relentless intent. In a team filled with stars, he has emerged as the balance they cannot afford to lose.