The recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia turned out to be a nightmare for Team India. Despite a commanding win in the opening Test by 295 runs, the visitors lost the five-match series 1-3. This defeat also cost India a spot in the World Test Championship final, where Australia and South Africa will compete for the ICC title. However, amid the disappointment, there was a silver lining for India in Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored a century on his debut tour.
Reddy stood out with an exceptional century during the fourth Test in Melbourne, earning widespread praise. Cricket legends like Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar lauded his memorable knock, which became a source of national pride.
Nitish Kumar Reddy climbing stairs of Tirupati after scoring ton in his debut series. The peace is in the feet of Govinda 🧡 pic.twitter.com/23xKmNOpaC
— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) January 13, 2025
Following the conclusion of the series, the 21-year-old all-rounder visited the Tirupati temple to offer prayers. Sharing glimpses of his visit on Instagram, Reddy posted a video of himself climbing the temple stairs on his knees as a gesture of devotion.
Earlier, Reddy was given a hero’s welcome upon his arrival at Visakhapatnam airport in Andhra Pradesh. Fans greeted him with a large yellow garland, showered petals, and clicked pictures to capture the moment. Nitish, a resident of Gajuwaka in Visakhapatnam, then traveled in an open jeep while fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the young cricketer. His father, Mutyalu, accompanied him in the vehicle.
During the series, Reddy scored 298 runs at an average of 37.25, making him India’s second-highest run-scorer. His standout moment came at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where he scored his maiden Test century—an impressive knock of 114. The achievement was made even more special as his family, including his father Mutyalu, mother Manasa, sister Tejaswi, and uncle Surendra, watched from the stands.
With the ball, Reddy also contributed by taking five wickets in 44 overs, with his best figures being 2-32. Despite India’s struggles in the series, Reddy’s performance provided a glimpse of hope for the team’s future.
