In the wake of India’s ODI series loss to New Zealand, rising star Nitish Kumar Reddy turned to spirituality. The 21-year-old all-rounder attended the iconic Bhasm Aarti at Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple on Monday, receiving a warm traditional welcome from temple authorities.
The Indore ODI marked New Zealand’s historic first series triumph in India, ending 2-1. Reddy, undeterred, delivered a match-defining 53-run knock—his first ODI fifty in just his fourth game—earning accolades from the team leadership.
‘Team management is thrilled with his progress,’ sources reveal. Skipper Shubman Gill underscored Reddy’s role, saying they aim to groom him across skills for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Reddy’s stats speak volumes: a Test ton among 396 runs and 8 wickets in 10 Tests; 100 ODI runs; and T20I figures of 90 runs plus 3 wickets in 4 matches. India envisions him as a versatile asset in white-ball and red-ball cricket alike.
He’s in good company—Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Gautam Gambhir, and T Dilip have all visited recently. These temple sojourns underscore the blend of devotion and discipline fueling Team India’s stars.