Defeat in Indore couldn’t dim Nitish Kumar Reddy’s spirits. The promising Indian cricketer headed straight to Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar for the pre-dawn Bhasm Aarti on January 19, embraced by age-old customs and temple honors.
India’s 1-2 series loss to New Zealand etched history, but Reddy’s 53-run innings in the decider—his maiden ODI fifty—lit up the scorecard. In his brief career’s fourth ODI, he proved his mettle as a batsman.
Shubman Gill’s endorsement rings clear: ‘We’ll give Nitish ample chances in batting and bowling, eyeing the 2027 World Cup.’ The youngster’s all-format exploits include a Test hundred, 396 runs and 8 wickets in Tests, 100 ODI runs, and T20I contributions of 90 runs and 3 scalps.
Management’s blueprint positions Reddy as India’s next big all-rounder, capable of thriving in Tests, ODIs, and T20s.
Echoing Kohli, Rahul, Kuldeep, Gambhir, and Dilip’s footsteps, Reddy’s pilgrimage reflects athletes’ quest for inner peace amid high-stakes cricket, blending bhakti with bat and ball.