Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, fresh off an impressive Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, made a heartfelt gesture by climbing the stairs of Tirupati Temple on his knees. The 21-year-old cricketer from Andhra Pradesh shared a video of his act on Instagram, which has since gone viral.
A Memorable Series in Australia
Reddy played all five matches in the recently concluded series, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. He scored 298 runs, including a century, making him India’s second-highest run-scorer in the series. His bowling performance included five wickets, with two scalps in the first innings of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The talented cricketer made a strong impact in his debut Test series, starting with a stellar performance in Perth on November 22, where he top-scored in India’s first innings. He also impressed in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval, where he was India’s top-scorer in both innings. His crowning achievement came during the Boxing Day Test when he scored a century while batting at No. 8 for Rohit Sharma’s team.
Social Media Reflection
Reddy expressed gratitude and introspection on Instagram following the series, writing,
“From setting alarms to watch Test matches in Australia to gaining a firsthand sense of the Australian shores, the last two months have been nothing short of an opportunity to grow, as a player and a person too. Not the way we wanted to end the series. We’ll be back, tougher and stronger.”
Rise to Prominence
Reddy’s cricketing journey reached new heights after a standout season in IPL 2024 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s run to the final. His performances earned him a maiden India call-up for a T20I series against Zimbabwe in July 2024, though an injury sidelined him for that tour.
He eventually debuted for India in a T20I against Bangladesh on October 6, 2024, in Gwalior. His most notable performance in that series came in the second match in Delhi, where he scored a blistering 74 off 34 balls as a No. 4 batter and picked up two wickets for 23 runs.
What’s Next for Reddy
Nitish Kumar Reddy is set to represent India in the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, starting on January 22 in Kolkata. Fans will be eager to see how this rising star continues to shine on the international stage.
