Aadya Sharma meets Nitish Kumar Reddy, India's all-action all-rounder who's in a hurry to achieve super-star status.
Before a ball had been bowled on India's 2024/25 tour of Australia, Morné Morkel, their bowling coach, namechecked the team's uncapped all-rounder. Earlier in the year, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who only turned 22 in May, had been named the IPL's Emerging Player of the Season, but his rapid elevation to the Test set-up had left some surprised.
Debuting in the series opener at Perth, where he made important contributions with the bat in a crushing victory, he proceeded to score a thrilling century from No.8 at the MCG against Australia's generational attack.
Sachin Tendulkar gushed over his ice-cold temperament. In Adam Gilchrist's view, Nitish looked born to play Test cricket. While Scott Boland, on the receiving end of what was only the youngster's second first-class hundred, marvelled at his range of strokeplay.
"One thing that helped me was being fearless, no matter what," Nitish tells WCM, recalling how head coach Gautam Gambhir influenced his approach in Australia. "He came to me and said: 'They're going to bowl bouncers at you, but you don't have to fear them. Take it on your shoulders, feel like you're taking a bullet for your country. Those words still remain in me.”
Before the tour, Nitish's red-ball credentials weren't immediately obvious. He'd played 21 games and then featured in two 'A' matches against Australia's second string where he averaged 17.75 with the bat and took one wicket from 31 overs.
"The India A series wasn't great for me," he admits. "I was finding it difficult to bat, maybe because of the bounce, since I'd played on Indian wickets a lot. But I closely watched batters playing in Australian conditions, and technically it helped me a lot."
He would end the series as India's second-highest run-getter.
His ascent has been warp-speed, but Nitish hasn't sprung out of nowhere. He has been making headlines since his teens, scoring a quadruplecentury in an age-group match and being named India's best under-16 cricketer at the BCCI's annual awards.
He also developed into a formidable swing bowler, adding outswing to his natural ability to move the ball in. "I was toying with batters," he recalls. "I would feel very confident when I could swing the ball."
With Hardik Pandya's fitness issues curtailing his red-ball career, India's Test team has been crying out for an all-rounder who can bolster the lower-order and fit seamlessly into their pace attack, particularly when it comes to touring England.
Also read: It's a closed chapter, but Hardik Pandya could have solved multiple problems for India's Test team
"I have never played with the Dukes ball," Nitish says, "but, as of now, I don't want to change many things [technically]. I am watching videos from when India played [in England] before. I just spoke to my video analyst: going through footage to see if I can find anything interesting to implement in my batting, any tactical points that worked for the batters that could work for me."
In Australia, his bowling was limited - taking five wickets in 44 overs - and his workload was minimal in the recent IPL as he recovered from a side strain. But he insists he is ready to play a full role with the ball.
"I've been working constantly with the England tour coming up. I have to load my body accordingly. So, in a day, I'm bowling three or four spells. I'm pretty sure I've done enough bowling for this tour."
Also read: Nitish Kumar Reddy interview: 'I have just one goal: to be the best all-rounder in the world'
In England, Nitish will be part of a new-look team, but in Australia he was surrounded by teammates he once fanboyed over.
"Three legends were about to retire and I shared the dressing room with them. It was a huge moment, and I will never forget that. Unreal. I got a chance to face Ashwin bhai in the nets. If not for that tour, I would never have faced the true Ashwin, with the red ball.
Nitish's parents have also been fast-tracked through a seismic life change. Footage of a sobbing Mutyala, overwhelmed by his son's MCG ton, was splashed across Indian TV screens. The deeply emotive celebration resonated with millions across the country.
"It's new, for a small town guy like me," says Nitish, shyly admitting he has already been approached by movie directors. "When my father was walking down the streets in Australia, people recognised him. He would have never thought he'd be noticed beyond his own village. But now he's noticed in Australia.
"As a son, I am proud that I took my father to this level and made him proud, because he worked a lot harder for me. They're happy to give selfies and autographs, and they're really loving these moments."
For all the adulation, Nitish says his focus is firmly on this England tour, and pursuing his dream of all-round excellence. Since his under-19 days, he has had one clear ambition: to be the No.1 all-rounder in the world.
"I just want to be there on top, to be named as a great all-rounder who came from India,” he says. "That's the only thing pushing me. In fitness, in recovery, even in my sleep, everything."
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