Nitish Kumar Reddy is one of India’s most exciting young all-rounders. He is a right-handed middle-order batter and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who hits the ball hard, bowls with genuine pace, and performs best when the pressure is highest. At just 22 years old, he is already one of the most talked-about cricketers in Indian cricket — and the story of how he got here is one of the most emotional in the sport’s recent history.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Current Teams?
He plays for India in all three formats, for Andhra in domestic cricket, and for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026.
Nitish Kumar Reddy IPL Team 2026?
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) — ₹6 crore (retained by SRH ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction)
Some cricketers are born into cricket families. Some are discovered at well-funded academies. Nitish Kumar Reddy had none of that. He grew up in Gajuwaka — a small, industrial neighbourhood of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. His father, Mutyala Reddy, worked a regular government job at Hindustan Zinc. Life was not difficult, but it was not easy either.
And then, when Nitish was around 9 to 12 years old, his father Mutyala Reddy took the big decision. Hindustan Zinc had transferred him to Udaipur, Rajasthan. Mutyala looked at the cricket facilities there and at his son’s raw talent. He made one of the most courageous decisions — he quit his stable government job at Hindustan Zinc with around 25 years of service still left.
Relatives laughed. Neighbours questioned his judgment. Even close family members said he had lost his mind. Mutyala did not care. He believed in his son.
Then one day, Nitish walked into their home and found his father in tears — crying because of the financial pressure the family was carrying. That was the turning point. In a BCCI TV interview, Nitish said: “To be honest, I was not that serious when I was young. My father left his job for me. There have been a lot of sacrifices behind my story. One day I saw him cry because of the financial crisis and that’s when I got serious.”
From that day, Nitish Kumar Reddy never looked back.
At Under-16 level, he scored 1,237 runs in the Vijay Merchant Trophy — including a historic 441 off 345 balls against Nagaland — still the highest individual score in the tournament’s history. At 21, on December 28, 2024, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, he scored his maiden Test century against Australia while batting at number eight. When he raised his bat, the camera found his father Mutyala in the stands — tears streaming down his face.
That image went around the cricket world in seconds. Because those tears said everything.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Quick Facts
- Full Name: Kaki Nitish Kumar Reddy. “Kaki” is his family/surname. In cricket, he is known simply as Nitish Kumar Reddy.
- Nickname: Nitish, NKR
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Age: 22 years old as of April 2026. He will turn 23 on May 26, 2026.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Birthday: May 26, 2003
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Height: 5 feet 10 inches (approximately 175–178 cm)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Height in Feet: 5 ft 10 in
- Weight: Approximately 70–75 kg. Athletic, well-built frame.
- Role: Right-arm medium-fast bowling all-rounder. Bats right-handed in the middle order.
- Batting Style: Right-handed. Aggressive, clean striker. Has excellent power hitting and the temperament to bat long when required.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Bowling Speed: Bowls in the range of 130–140 km/h. His best weapons are the slower ball, the hard-length bouncer, and the ability to hit the pitch sharply.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Jersey Number: He wears jersey number 88 for India and 88 for SRH in the IPL.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Father Name: Mutyala Reddy — former employee of Hindustan Zinc who quit his job to support Nitish’s career. The real hero of this entire story.
- Mother’s Name: Manasa Jyostna — homemaker who supported the family through financial hardship without complaint.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Siblings: Nitish Kumar Reddy has only one sibling — an elder sister named Tejaswi Reddy (also spelled Tejasvi Reddy in some places).
- Birth Place: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Grew up in the Gajuwaka area of Vizag.
- Education: Attended local school in Visakhapatnam. Cricket training took priority from a young age.
- Religion: Hindu. He is a devotee of Lord Shiva. He and his family are huge fans of Virat Kohli — his childhood role model.
- T20I Debut: October 6, 2024 vs Bangladesh at Gwalior.
- Test Debut: November 22, 2024 vs Australia at Perth (Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25).
- ODI Debut: ODI debut in October 2025 vs Australia.
- Domestic Team: Andhra (Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy).
- First-Class Debut: January 27, 2020 vs Kerala at Ongole.
- List A Debut: February 20, 2021 vs Vidarbha at Indore.
- T20 Debut (domestic): November 4, 2021 vs Jammu & Kashmir at Vadodara.
- IPL Debut: 2023 for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Dates Joined (IPL): Signed by SRH for ₹20 lakh at 2023 IPL auction. Retained for ₹6 crore ahead of IPL 2025.
- Current IPL Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) — ₹6 crore, IPL 2026.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy IPL 2025 Price: ₹6 crore (retained by SRH ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction).
- Marital Status: Single. Completely focused on cricket.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Girlfriend: No confirmed girlfriend or partner as of April 2026. A rumour linked him to actress Kushitha Kallapu, but this was never confirmed. He keeps his personal life entirely private.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Wife: Not married as of April 2026.
- BCCI Contract: Central contract awarded after his 2024 international debut — recognition of his status as a key India player.
- Major Awards: BCCI Jagmohan Dalmiya Award — Best Under-16 Cricketer (2017–18). IPL Emerging Player of the Year (2024). First Andhra cricketer to represent India in all three formats.
- Key Records: 441 off 345 balls vs Nagaland — highest individual score in Vijay Merchant Trophy history. 1,237 runs in a single Vijay Merchant Trophy — tournament record. Highest score by an Indian batting at No. 8 or lower in Australia (105* at MCG, BGT 2024). Broke Anil Kumble’s previous record for highest score by an Indian No. 8 or lower in Australia.
- Pet: He has a pet dog named Zoro.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Hairstyle: Known for a clean, well-kept short hairstyle with a slightly curly texture. Fans frequently comment on his signature look on social media, where he has over 2 million Instagram followers.
Who Is Nitish Kumar Reddy?
Nitish Kumar Reddy is the answer to a question Indian cricket has been asking for years: who is India’s next great pace-bowling all-rounder?
India has traditionally struggled to produce batters who can also bowl fast-medium with real penetration. For a generation, Hardik Pandya held that role almost alone. Now, selectors and coaches are looking at Nitish Kumar Reddy and seeing the same template — but younger, hungrier, and with a story that makes you root for him even harder.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Early Life and Childhood
Nitish Kumar Reddy was born on 26 May 2003 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. He grew up in the industrial Gajuwaka area. As a child, he played with a plastic bat and often watched senior players from behind the fence at the Hindustan Zinc company ground. His father Mutyala Reddy used to take him there regularly. From a very young age, Nitish showed natural talent in both batting and bowling.
He is not just a cricketer. He is a story. A boy who grew up watching seniors play through a fence on a zinc company ground. A teenager who set Under-16 records that still stand today. A young man who scored a Test century in front of 80,000 people at the MCG and posted on Instagram: “This one’s for you, Dad.”
Cricket produces many stories. Very few come with quite this much emotional power.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Height and Weight
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Height in Feet: 5 feet 10 inches
- Height in cm: approximately 175–178 cm
- Weight: approximately 70–75 kg
- Build: Athletic, strong, well-proportioned. He has the frame of a natural pace-bowling all-rounder — strong enough to generate pace and powerful enough to clear the boundary with ease.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy Bowling Speed: He regularly bowls at 130–140 km/h. He is not the fastest in India but generates sharp pace off the pitch. His slower ball and bouncer are his most dangerous deliveries.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Family
Father: Mutyala Reddy — The Real Hero
The story of Nitish Kumar Reddy’s father is the story of every Indian cricket parent who ever believed in a son the world had not yet noticed.
Mutyala Reddy worked at Hindustan Zinc in Visakhapatnam. He had a stable income, a government job, and a manageable life. When Nitish was young, he would take him to the Hindustan Zinc company grounds to watch seniors play cricket. He could see a natural gift in his son. He did not know yet how far it would go. But he could see it.
In 2012, when Nitish was around nine years old, Hindustan Zinc transferred Mutyala to Udaipur, Rajasthan. Mutyala visited the city. He assessed the cricket infrastructure. He looked at what moving would mean for his son’s development. And then he made his decision.
He quit his job. He had 25 years of service remaining. He quit anyway.
The criticism came from everywhere. Relatives told him he was crazy. Friends said he had thrown away his future for a child’s dream. Mutyala ignored all of it. He enrolled Nitish in VDCA camps. He drove him to practice every morning. He spent sleepless nights without food during financial crises — but never told Nitish the full truth of their struggles.
Nitish’s childhood coach, Kumaraswamy, told a media house: “Everyone wants to be a hero in their cinema, but when it comes to Nitish’s story, Mutyala is the hero. It is his father’s hard work which fuels Nitish to achieve something in life. He witnessed everything his father had undergone.”
When Nitish scored his maiden Test century at the MCG on December 28, 2024, Mutyala was in the stands. The camera found him in tears. He was not celebrating like a sports fan. He was crying like a man who had waited his entire adult life for one moment to confirm he had made the right decision.
Those tears became one of the most shared images in Indian cricket that year. After the century, Nitish posted on Instagram: “This one’s for you!” — with a heart emoji. No name needed. Everyone knew.
Mother: Manasa Jyostna
Manasa Jyostna is Nitish’s mother and a homemaker who stood silently beside her husband through every difficult phase. She kept expenses low when money was tight, maintained the household, and never once pushed Nitish away from cricket during the hardest financial periods. She has stayed entirely out of the media spotlight. Both Nitish and his father have credited her as the anchor of the whole family.
Sister: Tejaswi Reddy
Nitish has one elder sister, Tejaswi Reddy. She was studying medicine and had to return to India from abroad due to the Russia-Ukraine war. The family is deeply close-knit and has been at the centre of every celebration in Nitish’s cricket career. Tejaswi has lived mostly privately, away from heavy media attention.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Personal Life
Nitish Kumar Reddy Wife / Girlfriend
As of April 2026, Nitish Kumar Reddy is not married and has no confirmed girlfriend. He is 22 years old and entirely focused on his cricket career.
A rumour circulated on social media linking him to Telugu actress Kushitha Kallapu, but this was never confirmed by either party. He has kept his personal life completely private. At one IPL fan event, fans jokingly asked him about marriage — he laughed it off without answering.
His social media — where he has over 2 million Instagram followers — is dominated by cricket content, gym posts, and occasional family moments. No relationship has been publicly confirmed. He is, by every account, a young man who lives and breathes the sport.
Sports Career of Nitish Kumar Reddy — The Full Journey
Early Life and the Record That Started Everything
Nitish Kumar Reddy started playing cricket with a plastic bat at the age of five near his Gajuwaka home in Visakhapatnam. He would visit the Hindustan Zinc grounds to watch senior players, absorbing everything. His natural talent was visible from the start.
His father enrolled him in VDCA camps where he initially trained under coaches Kumaraswamy, Krishna Rao, and Watekar. Former India selector MSK Prasad spotted him during Under-12 and Under-14 matches — one of the earliest signs that national cricket was watching. Prasad helped him access the Andhra Cricket Association academy in Kadapa, where he was trained by Srinivasa Rao and Madhusudhana Reddy.
He was part of the Andhra Under-14 team in the 2015–16 South Zone Inter-State Under-14 Tournament, scoring 152 runs in four matches. He also took a five-wicket haul against Madhya Pradesh Under-16 in the quarter-final of the 2017–18 season.
But nothing prepared anyone for what was coming.
The Nitish Kumar Reddy 441 Scorecard — The Innings That Changed His Life
In the 2017–18 Vijay Merchant Trophy — India’s premier Under-16 national tournament — Nitish Kumar Reddy produced one of the most extraordinary individual performances in the history of Indian age-group cricket.
Playing for Andhra (South Zone):
- vs Tamil Nadu (South Zone): 301 off 407 balls — a triple century.
- vs Nagaland (pre-quarterfinal): 441 off 345 balls — the highest individual score in Vijay Merchant Trophy history. He also took a three-wicket haul in each innings of that match.
Across the entire 2017–18 Vijay Merchant Trophy:
- 1,237 runs at an average of 176.41 — a tournament record that still stands.
- 26 wickets — showing that this was a genuine all-round performance, not just a batting outlier.
No player before or since has come close to these numbers in this tournament.
The BCCI awarded him the Jagmohan Dalmiya Award for Best Under-16 Cricketer for the season — the first player from the Andhra Cricket Association ever to receive a BCCI individual award. He was later selected for the India Under-19 Green team for the 2018–19 Under-19 Challenger Trophy.
He was around fourteen or fifteen years old. And cricket across India now knew his name.
Andhra Domestic Career
First-Class Debut: January 27, 2020, vs Kerala at Ongole (Ranji Trophy). He scored 39 runs and took one wicket on debut.
List A Debut: February 20, 2021, vs Vidarbha at Indore (Vijay Hazare Trophy).
T20 Debut (domestic): November 4, 2021, vs Jammu & Kashmir at Vadodara (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy).
In the 2022–23 Ranji Trophy, he was Andhra’s third-highest wicket-taker, claiming 25 wickets in eight matches while also contributing with the bat from the lower order. These performances directly led to his IPL signing by SRH.
In the 2025–26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, despite being limited by injuries, he featured in three games — scoring at a strike rate of 137.25 and picking up six wickets. He produced a Player of the Match performance (45 off 22 balls + 2/32) against Jharkhand, the eventual winners.
Nitish Kumar Reddy IPL Career
IPL Debut: 2023 for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Dates Joined: Signed by SRH for ₹20 lakh at the 2023 IPL auction. Retained for ₹6 crore ahead of IPL 2025. Continuing with SRH in IPL 2026.
IPL Teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad (2023–present).
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IPL Journey Year by Year
2023 (Sunrisers Hyderabad — ₹20 lakh): SRH picked up Nitish for just ₹20 lakh — one of the smallest price tags in that auction. He played 2 matches, bowled a few overs, and did not get to bat. A quiet debut, designed as an introduction to the IPL environment. SRH had seen enough in domestic cricket to believe in the talent for the long term.
2024 (SRH — Emerging Player of the Year): This is the season that changed everything. Given an extended run in the playing XI, Nitish played 13 matches and scored 303 runs at a strike rate of 142.92. Two innings defined SRH’s entire campaign:
- 64 vs Punjab Kings — a match SRH won by just one run. Nitish’s innings was the difference.
- 76 (off 42 balls, 8 sixes) vs Rajasthan Royals* — power-hitting at its finest, winning the match by two runs.
He also took 3 wickets including a match-winning spell of 2/17 dismissing Tristan Stubbs and Rishabh Pant. SRH reached the IPL 2024 final — Nitish was a key reason why. He was awarded the IPL Emerging Player of the Year award.
2025 (SRH — ₹6 crore, retained): SRH retained him for ₹6 crore. However, the 2025 season was tough for him. He scored 182 runs at a strike rate of 118.95 and took only 2 wickets at an economy of 9.40. Nitish Kumar Reddy Injury: He suffered a neck spasm and a left quadriceps injury during the season, which affected his rhythm and limited his performances.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Injury: The reason became clear later — in 2025, Nitish suffered a neck spasm and a left quadriceps injury that significantly disrupted his rhythm and preparation. These injuries cost him selection in India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad, with Shivam Dube getting the nod instead.
2026 (SRH — ₹6 crore, IPL comeback): IPL 2026 has been the story of his comeback. He worked intensively with a mystery “special person” during the off-season — crediting this individual for helping him rediscover his bowling rhythm, while refusing to name them publicly (“I’ll reveal the identity later”). Against KKR in IPL 2026, he produced an all-round Player of the Match performance — using a perfectly executed slower ball to dismiss Rinku Singh at a critical moment and contributing meaningfully with the bat. He is back. SRH are relieved.
Nitish Kumar Reddy IPL Stats
IPL Debut: 2023 (Sunrisers Hyderabad) Current IPL Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Total Matches: 30+
IPL Career Batting Statistics
| Season | Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 303 | 76* | 33.67 | 142.92 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 21 |
| 2025 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 182 | 32 | 22.75 | 118.95 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 96 | 56 | 32.00 | 152.38 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Career | 31 | 25 | 5 | 581 | 76* | 29.05 | 135.75 | 0 | 3 | 38 | 31 |
Key Highlights from IPL Career:
- Total Runs: 581
- Highest Score: 76* (vs Rajasthan Royals in 2024)
- Best Season: 2024 — 303 runs at a strike rate of 142.92 (won IPL Emerging Player of the Year)
- Notable Innings: 76* off 42 balls (8 sixes) vs RR in 2024 and 64 vs Punjab Kings in a thrilling 1-run win.
- 2026 Update: In the early part of IPL 2026, he has shown improved form with a high strike rate of 152.38.
IPL Career Bowling Statistics
| Season | Matches | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 5.0 | 54 | 0 | 0/19 | 10.80 |
| 2024 | 13 | 13.1 | 153 | 3 | 2/17 | 11.62 |
| 2025 | 13 | 5.0 | 47 | 2 | 1/13 | 9.40 |
| 2026 | 3 | 5.0 | 50 | 2 | 2/17 | 10.00 |
| Career | 31 | 28.1 | 304 | 7 | 2/17 | 10.79 |
Key Highlights from IPL Bowling Career:
- Total Wickets: 7
- Best Bowling Figures: 2/17 (achieved twice — once in 2024 and once in 2026 vs KKR)
- Best Season with Ball: 2024 & 2026 (3 wickets in 2024, including a crucial 2/17 spell)
- Note: Nitish is primarily a batting all-rounder. He bowls useful medium-pace overs (mostly 130–140 km/h) with variations like slower balls and bouncers. His bowling role has been limited so far, but he has shown improvement in 2026 after recovering from 2025 injuries.
Note: Nitish missed significant game time in 2025 due to neck and quadriceps injuries. His IPL 2026 return has been his most mature and considered performance with the ball so far.
Nitish Kumar Reddy India Career
Current India Role: Middle-order batting all-rounder in Tests and T20Is. Right-arm medium-fast bowler. Seen as India’s long-term pace-bowling all-rounder — a potential Hardik Pandya successor.
All Three Format Debuts
T20I Debut:
October 6, 2024 vs Bangladesh at Gwalior. He scored 16 off 15 balls in the first T20I — a quiet start. Then in the second T20I at Delhi, he exploded: 74 off 34 balls (including 7 sixes) and took 2/23. He was named Player of the Match. In just his second T20I, he had announced himself strongly.
In just his second T20I, he had announced himself. He finished the Bangladesh T20I series with 90 runs at a strike rate of 180 — making him the first Indian to score 70+ and take 2 wickets in the same T20I match.
Test Debut:
November 22, 2024 vs Australia at Perth (Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25). He was a surprise pick — many had not expected him to make the Test squad so soon. In the Perth Test (1st Test), he was India’s highest scorer in the first innings with 41 and scored 38 not out in the second innings. In the 2nd Test, he top-scored for India in both innings with 42 each. Four consecutive innings as India’s best batter, all without reaching fifty. And then came Melbourne.
ODI Debut:
Nitish Kumar Reddy made his ODI debut on 19 October 2025 against Australia at Optus Stadium, Perth. In a rain-reduced 26-over match, he scored an unbeaten 19 off just 11 balls, smashing 2 sixes in the last over to give India a fighting total of 136/9. With the ball, he bowled 2.1 overs and conceded 16 runs without taking a wicket. Although India lost the match by 7 wickets, Nitish’s aggressive finishing on debut was widely appreciated.
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The MCG Century — December 28, 2024
Boxing Day Test. Melbourne Cricket Ground. Fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia had scored 474. India were 191 for 6 — staring at the follow-on. In walked Nitish Kumar Reddy at number eight.
He batted for 176 balls. He hit 10 fours and one six. He scored 105 not out.
He and Washington Sundar added 127 runs for the eighth wicket — the second-highest such partnership for India in Australia in Test history. India crossed 350 and avoided the follow-on. The match’s momentum shifted entirely.
His 105* was:
- The highest score by an Indian batting at No. 8 or lower in Australia — breaking Anil Kumble’s record of 87
- The highest score by any No. 8 batter or lower at the MCG in Test history
- He became the third-youngest Indian centurion in Australia (after Tendulkar and Pant), at just 21
After reaching three figures, he dropped to one knee, placed his helmet on his bat, and looked to the sky. 80,000 people at the MCG gave him a standing ovation.
In the stands, Mutyala Reddy was in tears.
Nitish posted that evening: “This one’s for you!” — with a heart emoji.
India Career Stats (as of April 2026)
India Career Batting Statistics (International)
| Format | Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 10 | 16 | 1 | 396 | 114 | 26.40 | 57.31 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 10 |
| ODI | 4 | 4 | 1 | 100 | 53 | 33.33 | 101.01 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| T20I | 4 | 3 | 1 | 90 | 74 | 45.00 | 180.00 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Overall | 18 | 23 | 3 | 586 | 114 | 29.30 | 78.50 (approx.) | 1 | 2 | 47 | 23 |
Key Highlights from India Career (Batting):
- Maiden Test Century: 114 at the MCG against Australia in December 2024 — highest score by an Indian batting at No. 8 or lower in Australia.
- Highest T20I Score: 74 off 35 balls (strike rate 180+) against Bangladesh in just his second T20I.
- ODI Best: 53 against New Zealand in January 2026.
- Nitish has played as a middle/lower-middle order batter and has shown strong finishing ability in white-ball cricket and resilience in red-ball cricket.
Note:
- These stats are updated till mid-April 2026.
- He made his T20I debut in October 2024 vs Bangladesh.
- Test debut in November 2024 vs Australia (Perth).
- ODI debut in October 2025 vs Australia.
India Career Bowling Statistics (International)
| Format | Matches | Innings | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling (BBI) | Average | Economy | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 10 | 15 | 86.0 | 366 | 8 | 2/32 | 45.75 | 4.26 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 4 | 4 | 15.1 | 106 | 0 | 0/13 | – | 6.99 | 0 | 0 |
| T20I | 4 | 3 | 9.0 | 71 | 3 | 2/23 | 23.67 | 7.89 | 0 | 0 |
| Overall | 18 | 22 | 110.1 | 543 | 11 | 2/32 | 49.36 | 4.93 | 0 | 0 |
Key Highlights from India Bowling Career:
- Test Best: 2/32 (his best figures in red-ball cricket so far).
- T20I Best: 2/23 vs Bangladesh (in just his second T20I) — this remains his most impactful bowling spell for India.
- ODI: He is yet to take a wicket in ODIs. He has bowled economically in short spells but hasn’t broken through yet.
- Nitish is used mainly as a medium-pace all-rounder who provides control in Tests (economy under 4.3) and variations in white-ball cricket.
- He has improved his bowling rhythm in 2026 after recovering from the 2025 injuries.
Note: In the BGT 2024–25 series alone, Nitish averaged 71 across six innings — one of the most impressive debut Test series by any young Indian in recent history.
Major Records and Achievements
441 off 345 balls vs Nagaland — Vijay Merchant Trophy 2017–18: The highest individual score in the history of the Vijay Merchant Trophy. The Nitish Kumar Reddy 441 scorecard remains one of the most extraordinary innings ever played in Indian age-group cricket — still unbroken as of April 2026.
1,237 runs in a single Vijay Merchant Trophy edition: A tournament runs record. Averaged 176.41 alongside 26 wickets — genuinely all-round historic numbers at Under-16 level.
BCCI Jagmohan Dalmiya Award — Best Under-16 Cricketer (2017–18): First player from the Andhra Cricket Association to receive a BCCI individual cricket award.
IPL Emerging Player of the Year — 2024: Best young player to emerge in IPL 2024. 303 runs at a strike rate of 142 and crucial wickets in SRH’s run to the final.
Highest score by an Indian batting at No. 8 or lower in Australia: Nitish Kumar Reddy scored his maiden Test century on 28 December 2024 against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Batting at No. 8, he played a fighting knock of 114 runs off 189 balls. He reached his hundred on the third day (unbeaten on 105* at stumps) and was eventually dismissed for 114 on the fourth day. This remains the highest score by an Indian batter batting at No. 8 or lower in Australia, and also the highest by any No. 8 or lower batter at the MCG in Test history.
Highest score at the MCG by a batter from No. 8 or lower in Test history: A record that will stand forever.
Third-youngest Indian centurion in Australia: At 21 years old, after Tendulkar and Pant.
First Indian to score 70+ and take 2 wickets in the same T20I match: Achieved in just his second T20I appearance — vs Bangladesh, Delhi, October 2024.
First cricketer from Andhra to represent India in all three international formats.
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Key Performances
1) 441 vs Nagaland — Vijay Merchant Trophy 2017–18 A fifteen-year-old boy. 441 off 345 balls in an Under-16 match. Still the highest score in Vijay Merchant Trophy history. The innings that put him on India’s cricket radar permanently.
2) 74 off 34 balls + 2/23 vs Bangladesh — T20I Delhi, October 2024 His second T20I. Struck at 217. Took two wickets. Named Player of the Match. The innings that made India’s selectors say: he is Test-ready.
3) 114 at MCG vs Australia — December 28, 2024* India were 191 for 6. He came in at number eight and scored an unbeaten century. He avoided the follow-on. His father cried in the stands. He posted: “This one’s for you.” No innings in Indian cricket in 2024 produced more emotion.
4) Player of the Match vs KKR — IPL 2026 His comeback after a difficult injury year. Used the slower ball brilliantly to dismiss Rinku Singh at a critical moment. Spoke in the post-match interview with maturity and tactical clarity. His IPL 2026 season, he has said, is specifically about becoming a more complete bowler.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Bowling Style
Main Style: Right-arm medium-fast. Not an express quick — bowls 130–140 km/h — but hits the pitch hard and uses variation intelligently.
Slower Ball: His most dangerous weapon in T20 cricket. He used it perfectly against Rinku Singh in IPL 2026, explaining afterwards that the slower ball “rushing off the pitch” was exactly what he had planned.
Bouncer: Sharp, skiddy, and difficult to play on true hard pitches. Particularly effective in Test cricket where batters cannot be set for it constantly.
Seam Movement: Generates some movement off the pitch, making him effective with the new ball in domestic and Test cricket.
Strengths: His biggest strength is the all-round contribution. He can bat for long periods in Tests (as the MCG century proves) and also hit sixes in T20s (8 sixes vs Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024). He can also take new-ball wickets. All of it in one player, at 22 years old.
Development Areas: Bowling consistency at the international level. He has publicly acknowledged that injuries in 2025 prevented him from working on his bowling as much as he wanted. IPL 2026 is his stated platform for improvement.
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The Hardik Pandya Comparison
Whenever Nitish Kumar Reddy is discussed, Hardik Pandya’s name comes up. Both are pace-bowling all-rounders — the rarest breed in Indian cricket. Both play aggressively. Both carry the expectation of being match-winners.
Selectors and commentators have openly discussed Nitish as a potential long-term successor to that role. The injuries in 2025 that cost him a place in the 2026 T20 World Cup squad were a setback. But Nitish is 22 years old. He has responded to every challenge with maturity and hard work.
His response to missing the T20 World Cup was to work harder on his bowling in the off-season, credit a mystery mentor for his improvement, and come out in IPL 2026 with focus and intelligence. That response — from someone who could easily have been bitter — shows exactly why India’s selectors continue to believe in him.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Net Worth
Estimated Net Worth: ₹15 crore (approximately) as of April 2026.
Still early in his career, but growing rapidly.
IPL Salary: ₹6 crore per season (SRH, 2026). Total IPL earnings from 2023 to date: approximately ₹12–13 crore.
BCCI Central Contract: Added after his 2024 international debut — estimated ₹1–3 crore per year.
Brand Endorsements: Puma signed him as a brand ambassador after IPL 2024. More deals expected as his profile continues to grow.
Bikes: He owns a BMW G 310 GS and a KTM Duke — reflecting his personality as a hard-working young man who also enjoys life.
His net worth is expected to multiply significantly if he establishes himself as India’s regular pace-bowling all-rounder across all three formats.
Latest News About Nitish Kumar Reddy
The biggest recent news in April 2026 is his IPL comeback for SRH. After a difficult 2025 — marked by neck and quadriceps injuries and below-par form — he returned in IPL 2026 with an all-round Player of the Match performance against KKR. He credited a mysterious “special person” for helping him rediscover his bowling rhythm, teasing cricket fans by refusing to name the individual.
He was not selected for India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad — a disappointment, but one he has handled with maturity. Shivam Dube got the spot instead. Nitish’s focus now is on IPL 2026, regaining full fitness, and pushing for Test and ODI selection going forward.
His ODI debut — still awaited as of April 2026 — remains one of the most anticipated moments in Indian cricket.
FAQs
Who is Nitish Kumar Reddy?
Nitish Kumar Reddy (full name: Kaki Nitish Kumar Reddy) is an Indian right-handed batting all-rounder who plays for India, Andhra, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. One of the most exciting young Indian cricketers, seen as a potential Hardik Pandya successor.
What is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s age?
22 years old as of April 2026. Born May 26, 2003. Turns 23 on May 26, 2026.
What is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s height?
5 feet 10 inches (approximately 175–178 cm).
What is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s height in feet?
5 ft 10 in.
What are Nitish Kumar Reddy’s stats?
In Tests: 284+ runs at an average of 47+, including one century (105* at MCG). In T20Is: 90 runs in 3 matches at a strike rate of 180, 2 wickets. In IPL: 525+ runs in 30+ matches, best of 76*, plus 7+ wickets. See full tables above.
What is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s jersey number?
88 — worn for India and SRH in the IPL.
What is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s bowling speed?
130–140 km/h regularly. His best weapons are the slower ball and the hard-length bouncer rather than raw pace.
Who is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s father?
Mutyala Reddy — former Hindustan Zinc employee who quit his government job when Nitish was 12–13 to support his cricket career. Widely considered the true hero of Nitish’s story. He was seen crying in the stands when Nitish scored his MCG century.
Does Nitish Kumar Reddy have a girlfriend or wife? No confirmed girlfriend and not married as of April 2026. A rumour linked him to actress Kushitha Kallapu — never confirmed. He is single and focused entirely on cricket.
What is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s net worth?
Approximately ₹15 crore as of April 2026, from IPL salary, BCCI contract, and brand endorsements including Puma.
What is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s current IPL team?
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Retained for ₹6 crore ahead of IPL 2025 and continuing in IPL 2026.
What was Nitish Kumar Reddy’s IPL 2025 price? ₹6 crore — retained by SRH ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
What was the Nitish Kumar Reddy 441 scorecard?
In the 2017–18 Vijay Merchant Trophy pre-quarterfinal, he scored 441 off 345 balls against Nagaland Under-16, plus a three-wicket haul in each innings. It remains the highest individual score in Vijay Merchant Trophy history. He finished the tournament with 1,237 runs at an average of 176.41 — both are tournament records.
What is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s family like
Very close-knit. Father Mutyala Reddy quit his job to support Nitish’s cricket. Mother Manasa Jyostna kept the family going through hardship. Sister Tejaswi Reddy lives privately. The family — especially his father’s sacrifice — is central to everything Nitish has achieved.
What injury did Nitish Kumar Reddy have?
In 2025, he suffered a neck spasm and a left quadriceps injury that disrupted his IPL 2025 season and caused him to miss the 2026 T20 World Cup selection. He has since recovered and is performing well in IPL 2026.
What is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s hairstyle?
He is known for a clean, well-groomed short hairstyle with a slightly curly texture — a signature look that fans frequently comment on across his 2 million+ Instagram following.
What are Nitish Kumar Reddy’s current teams?
India (Tests and T20Is), Andhra (domestic cricket), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL 2026).
What is the sports career of Nitish Kumar Reddy in brief?
He started playing cricket at age 5 in Visakhapatnam. His father quit his job to support him. He set Vijay Merchant Trophy records at Under-16 level (441 in an innings, 1,237 in a season). He debuted for Andhra in 2020. SRH signed him for ₹20 lakh in 2023. He had a breakout IPL 2024 season and won Emerging Player of the Year. He debuted for India in T20Is and Tests in late 2024 and scored a century on debut in Australia at the MCG. He is 22 years old and just getting started.
Conclusion
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s story is one of the most emotionally powerful in recent Indian cricket. A boy who grew up in Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam, watching seniors play through a fence. A father who quit a government job with 25 years left because he believed in his son. Relatives who laughed. Financial crises hidden from a child. Sleepless nights and empty stomachs that Mutyala never complained about.
And then: 441 off 345 balls at Under-16 level — still a record no one has beaten. A breakout IPL 2024 with 303 runs and match-winning spells. A T20I debut where he scored 74 at a strike rate of 217 in just his second match. And then December 28, 2024 — 80,000 people at the MCG, India staring down the follow-on, Nitish Kumar Reddy walking in at number eight and walking off with 105 not out.
His father in the stands. Tears on his face.
“This one’s for you, Dad.”
Four words. A career summarised. A father’s sacrifice honoured. A son’s talent confirmed.
He is 22 years old. He has not made his ODI debut yet. He has injuries to overcome and a T20 World Cup spot to reclaim. He wants to be India’s next great all-rounder — the heir to a throne that Hardik Pandya built. He has the talent. He has the drive. He has a father who gave up everything to put him on that stage.
The world knows his name now. It will know it for a very long time to come.
Rahul Desai is a cricket rules researcher who closely studies official rulebooks, match conditions, and tournament regulations. His articles explain tricky scenarios like no-ball decisions, super overs, and DLS calculations in a straightforward way. Rahul’s content is ideal for fans who want rule clarity.