IPL 2025: Is Dubey the Clever Bowler Vettori Praises?

New Delhi, May 26 (NationPress) In IPL 2025, Harsh Dubey, a left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, made a late entry as a replacement for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). His performance in three matches has left head coach Daniel Vettori thoroughly impressed, praising the young bowler as a ‘very clever bowler’.

During the significant 110-run victory against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Dubey showcased his skills by extracting turn and varying his pace on a flat pitch. He managed to dismiss Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Ramandeep Singh, ending with figures of 3-34 in his four overs. Prior to this, he had already taken down Mitchell Marsh and Virat Kohli in his first two IPL outings.

The year 2025 has marked a turning point for Dubey, as he broke the record for the most wickets in a Ranji Trophy season, claiming 69 wickets in Vidarbha's successful run to the 2024/25 championship, earning him the title of Player of the Tournament. He is set to join the India ‘A’ squad for the upcoming tour of England, commencing on May 30.

“We are definitely satisfied with his contributions since joining the team. He is undoubtedly a very clever bowler, has a great understanding of conditions and knows how to adjust his bowling strategy. We needed that control, and he has provided it in all three matches,” Vettori stated during the post-match press conference.

“The wonderful aspect for him is that in the time leading up to the next IPL, he will have ample cricket to play, either for India A or his domestic team. This will give him numerous opportunities to develop both as a bowler and a batsman, as his batting capabilities were also a significant factor in our decision-making,” Vettori added.

While SRH concluded their season positively, it marked a challenging campaign for Nitish Kumar Reddy. The all-rounder had been a standout in SRH's runner-up finish in IPL 2024, scoring 303 runs and taking three wickets. However, in IPL 2025, Reddy struggled, accumulating only 182 runs in 11 innings and bowling just three times due to a fluctuating batting position.

“He entered the tournament with a side strain, which had limited his play before. It was a gradual recovery, and we expected him to bowl in the last few games, which occurred. It was purely an injury issue,” Vettori explained.

“The number four or five batting positions are particularly challenging in the IPL. Reddy usually comes in after an aggressive batting style, but we know he can build his innings and capitalize on pace and spin when at his best. This season has been a learning experience for him, but he is too talented to not rebound,” Vettori concluded.

He also pointed out that Mohammed Shami had a subpar performance in IPL 2025 due to a lack of T20 play. Shami, who was not selected for the upcoming five-match Test series against England due to fitness concerns, managed only six wickets in nine games for SRH at an economy rate of 11.23.

“It has been quite a while since he last played T20 cricket, hence it takes time to readjust. The game has evolved significantly since he last played for GT, where he was a Purple Cap winner,” Vettori noted.

“The key challenge for him is achieving consistency, which is when he performs best. Unfortunately, he wasn't at the level we are accustomed to seeing. This can be attributed to both his long layoff and the current dynamics of the game. Despite his hard work and desire to excel, this season wasn't his best, but his quality as a bowler assures us he can bounce back,” he concluded.