All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is set to join Sunrisers Hyderabad after recovering from a side strain that had kept him sidelined since January. PTI has confirmed that Nitish successfully passed all required fitness tests, including the yo-yo test, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, and the physios have given him the green light to return to play.

The 21-year-old cricketer from Andhra last represented India during the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens on January 22, although he did not bat or bowl in that match. Nitish had trained at the nets before the second T20I in Chennai but was ruled out of that match and the subsequent five-match series due to a side strain.

Nitish was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 6 crore ahead of last year’s players’ auction after making 303 runs from 13 matches at a strike rate of 143. He also impressed during India’s tour of Australia, making valuable contributions, including a gutsy 114 in the fourth Test at Melbourne.

Due to the injury, there were initially some concerns about Nitish’s availability and fitness, but fortunately, he was cleared just in time for the start of IPL 2025. Nitish will join the SRH squad as they begin their IPL 2025 campaign on March 23 against Rajasthan Royals at Hyderabad.