Everything You Need to Know About Nitish Kumar Reddy

28 Dec 2024 ScoreWaves Staff view

Views: 495 read

2 Mins Read

After creating history at the MCG during the Boxing Day test match, 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy has become the talk of the town. However, many fans are not privy about his early life and the sacrifices made by his father. So, here’s an entire lowdown of Nitish Kumar Reddy’s journey to global stardom.

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s early life and father’s sacrifice

Nitish was born on 26th May 2003 in the cricket mad city of Vizag (A.K.A. Visakhapatnam). Nitish’s love affair with cricket began when he was just five, as he visited Hindustan Zinc ground to watch seniors play. For Nitish, those moments weren’t just recreational—they were formative. His father, Mutyala Reddy, who worked at Hindustan Zinc, quickly recognized his son’s unwavering passion for the game and decided to nurture it wholeheartedly. Mutyala took the first big step by enrolling Nitish in the VDCA camps, where the young cricketer honed his skills under the expert guidance of coaches Kumara Swamy, Krishna Rao, and Watekar.

However, a pivotal moment arrived when Nitish was just 12. Mutyala was transferred to Udaipur, Rajasthan—a move that could have disrupted Nitish’s budding cricket journey. But instead of uprooting their lives, Mutyala made an extraordinary decision. He resigned from his post, choosing to stay in Vizag and dedicate himself fully to supporting Nitish’s aspirations. During an interview, Nitish opened up about his father’s decision. Nitish said, "I was 12 or 13 when my dad quit his job. He was transferred to Udaipur. He analyzed the cricket there and was afraid of the politics that might affect my game. He quit his job and dedicated his time to my game. Relatives questioned his decisions. He is the first person who believed in me”

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Dominance in Youth Cricket

Nitish’s talent didn’t go unnoticed for long. Former Indian cricketer and selector MSK Prasad spotted the young prodigy during Under-12 and Under-14 matches, impressed by his raw potential and skill. Recognizing his promise, Nitish was given the opportunity to train at the prestigious Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) academy in Kadapa. Under the watchful eyes of seasoned coaches Madhusudhana Reddy and Srinivasa Rao, Nitish sharpened his game. With Nitish being a seam-bowling all-rounder, he was bound to attract attention in a country which is in dire need of such a player. However, the selectors were not ready for what Nitish had in store during the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2016/17.

Representing Andra Pradesh, Nitish scored a triple century against Tamil Nadu, which was followed by a century against Karnataka. However, the knock that catapulted him into the limelight was his 441-run knock against Nagaland. That quadruple ton came in just 345 balls. During the tournament Nitish heaped on 1237 runs in just 8 innings, averaging a nearly-unbelievable 176 across the tournament – a benchmark that hasn’t been surpassed since. Besides his prowess with the bat, Reddy also took 26 wickets. This fetched him the BCCI ‘Best Cricketer in the Under -16’ Jagmohan Dalmiya award for the season 2017–2018. Nitish is the first player from the ACA to receive the award.

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s entry into the cricketing zeitgeist

Nitish was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs. 20 Lakh, in the 2023 Indian Premier League auction. He had a breakout performance in the 2024 season, where he won the Emerging Player of the Year Award. During the tournament, Reddy scored 303 runs at a strike rate of 142.92. He also took three wickets. Due to his exciting potential and stellar play, Reddy was subsequently retained by SRH in the 2025 IPL Auction for Rs. 6 Crores.

Following an impressive IPL campaign, new India head coach Gautum Gambhir handed Nitish his T20i debut against Bangladesh on 6th October. He made his Test debut for India on 22nd November 2024, in Perth, during the Border–Gavaskar Trophy series. However, the culmination of the years of hard work and sacrifice he put in came on 28th December, when he scored his maiden hundred at the iconic MCG. Nitish walked to the crease with India teetering at 191/6, staring down the barrel of a collapse. What followed was nothing short of a masterclass. Facing one of the world’s most lethal bowling attacks—featuring Cummins, Starc, and Boland—Nitish played a gritty, fearless knock that breathed life into what seemed like a lost cause. His resilience and determination turned the tide, forging a vital 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar. By stumps, India had clawed their way to 358/9, and Nitish’s heroic innings had put them back in contention.

Scoring a century on the grand stage of a Boxing Day Test, with the pressure of an entire nation watching, was a coming-of-age moment for Nitish. For Nitish’s father, who had sacrificed so much to nurture his son’s talent, this was the ultimate vindication. As tears of joy rolled down his face, the moment became bigger than cricket—it was a celebration of resilience, sacrifice, and the pursuit of a dream. Day 3 of this unforgettable Boxing Day Test will be remembered as the day Nitish Reddy truly arrived.