Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025: Watch Nitish Kumar Reddy take a hat-trick for Andhra in a losing cause
Nitish Kumar Reddy's brilliant hat-trick for Andhra wasn't enough to secure victory, as they lost to Madhya Pradesh (MP) by four wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League.
Last Updated: 02.54 PM, Dec 12, 2025
A brilliant hat-trick from Nitish Kumar Reddy lit up the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League stage on Friday, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to prevent Andhra from slipping to a four-wicket defeat against Madhya Pradesh (MP). In a match defined by early collapses, Reddy’s all-round effort stood out, even as MP secured a composed win to start their Super League campaign with four points.
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Reddy’s hat-trick goes in vain
Chasing a modest 113, MP were rocked almost immediately. Reddy, bowling with precision and fire, removed three batters in three deliveries to leave MP reeling at 14 for 3 inside three overs. His hat-trick sent a surge of belief through the Andhra camp, as the right-arm quick exploited movement off the surface to rip out the top order.
Nitish first dismised Harsh Gawali for 5 and then removed Harpreet Singh for Golden Duck. The hat-trick was made more special as the Indian all-rounder was able to get rid of Rajat Patidar for a golden duck.
MP were further shaken when Venkatesh Iyer, who had looked to steady the innings, fell in the seventh over, leaving them wobbling at 37 for 4. For a moment, the early wreckage threatened to derail their chase completely.
But from that point on, MP rebuilt with admirable composure.
Chouhan and Batham calm the storm
The match turned decisively with a 73-run fifth-wicket stand between Rishabh Chouhan and Rahul Batham, a partnership that brought calm after chaos. The duo showed immense maturity, resisting the temptation to counterattack recklessly and instead opting for sensible rotation of strikes and smart shot selection.
Chouhan anchored the recovery with a fluent 47 off 43 balls, striking six boundaries that eased the pressure and eroded Andhra’s early advantage. Batham played the perfect foil, finishing unbeaten on 35 off 32, guiding MP home with four wickets and 15 balls to spare.
The stand ensured MP faced no further stumbles, despite the early scare delivered by Reddy’s dream spell.
Andhra’s batting woes continues
Earlier in the day, Andhra found themselves in deep trouble after losing the toss. Right-arm seamer Tripuresh Singh struck twice in the opening over, removing Ashwin Hebbar and Shaik Rasheed, both for ducks, leaving Andhra at a precarious 7 for 2.
Reddy then contributed with the bat, adding a crucial 50-run stand for the third wicket with KS Bharat, who top-scored with 39. Their partnership revived hopes briefly before Iyer broke through, dismissing Bharat with a sharp return catch. That triggered a dramatic collapse.
Andhra crumbled from 57 for 2 to 112 all out, losing 8 for 55. MP’s bowlers were relentless, with Shivam Shukla starring through figures of 4 for 23, including the key wicket of Reddy for 23. Tripuresh finished with 3 for 31, while Batham chipped in with two wickets. Notably, four Andhra batters were dismissed without scoring, reflecting the struggles on a pitch offering just enough assistance for disciplined seamers.
Looking ahead
Despite the defeat, Reddy’s hat-trick remains one of the highlights of the tournament so far, showcasing his ever-growing influence as an all-rounder. However, Andhra will need more collective consistency as they prepare to face Punjab on December 14.
MP, buoyed by a comeback win and the Chouhan-Batham stand, will look to maintain momentum when they take on Jharkhand, also on December 14.