Nitish Reddy: Overcoming adversity to become India’s new cricket star

Nitish Reddy’s journey to his first Test century at Melbourne is a testament to his determination and his family’s sacrifices. The 21-year-old cricketer has always carried a reminder of his struggles—a tattoo of 'Achilles' Heel' on his ankle, symbolizing the hardships his family endured to support his dream of playing for India.

Becoming a cricketer was not just a passion for Reddy; it was a mission to give back to his parents, who went through significant financial struggles. Reddy’s middle-class family took substantial risks, gambling with their finances to help him pursue his cricketing aspirations. Today, those sacrifices are paying off.

“Making it to the Indian team is a proud feeling, but it’s only half the dream. It will be fulfilled when I win matches for my country,” an emotional Reddy shared with PTI in June.

Reddy dedicated his maiden Test century celebration, done in Amarendra Bahubali style, to his father Mutyala, who watched from the stands. The journey to this moment was filled with sacrifices, especially from his father.

At just 12 years old, Reddy overheard relatives criticizing his father for losing money in a micro-financing business after taking early retirement from Hindustan Zinc. Mutyala took this step to avoid a transfer to Udaipur, where there were no cricket facilities for his son. He invested his Rs 20 lakh payout into a business, but friends who borrowed money never returned it, leading to significant losses.

“I understood everything even as a 12-year-old. I promised myself that the only thing that could redeem my dad’s prestige was an India call-up,” Reddy recalled.

During tough times, Reddy’s family could only afford one bat a year, a seasoned English willow costing around Rs 15,000 back then (now around Rs 50,000 for international players). His father’s support and sacrifices were unwavering.

Mutyala struggled to express his emotions outside the MCG after his son’s rescue act for India. “I can’t tell you how happy I am,” he said. “Virat sir has told him to work hard.”

Years ago, Reddy was named the best U-16 cricketer by the BCCI and attended the Annual Awards Function in Bengaluru. The entire Indian team was present, and the 14-year-old Reddy was thrilled to get a selfie with Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma. Today, receiving praise from Kohli himself is an unforgettable memory.

Reddy’s family also expressed gratitude to MSK Prasad, the former head of the Andhra Cricket Association, for enrolling him in their state-of-the-art academy in Visakhapatnam. Reddy’s parents encouraged him to pursue his dreams, and he steadily progressed through the academies, eventually earning a spot on India’s U-19 team.

In 2023, Reddy was selected for India’s Emerging Asia Cup team but was dropped after a few games. This setback made him realize he needed to think differently to succeed at the international level. He dedicated more time to practice, hiring sidearm specialists in Vizag to bowl at high speeds. This preparation helped him hit sixes in the IPL and impressed his SRH skipper, Pat Cummins, who believed in his potential.

India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, played a crucial role in Reddy’s selection for the series Down Under after watching his impressive performance in a T20 series against Bangladesh. Reddy has now become the ‘find of the series’ for India.

On Christmas Day, as debates raged about India’s team combination, Sanjay Manjrekar questioned whether leaving Reddy out would give India better balance. On Saturday, one of Reddy’s sponsors, a popular sports equipment and apparel brand, responded by posting a picture of Reddy and urging Manjrekar to reconsider.