Nitish

Kumar Reddy

Nitish Kumar Reddy Biography and Career

Right-handed batter and right-arm medium fast bowler, Nitish Kumar Reddy is an all-rounder who hails from Andhra Pradesh. Son of a former Hindustan Zinc employee, Mutyala Reddy, Nitish started playing cricket at the age of 5 and would also visit the Hindustan Zinc grounds to watch employees play the game. Nitish was 12 when his father was transferred to Udaipur. But unsure of the opportunities his son would receive in Rajasthan, Mutyala Reddy decided to quit his job and stay back in Visakhapatnam so that Nitish's cricket career did not get impacted. 

"I was 12 or 13 when my dad quit his job. He was transferred to Udaipur. He analysed the cricket there and was afraid of the politics that might affect my game. He quit his job and dedicated his time to my game. Relatives questioned his decisions. He is the first person who believed in me," Nitish once said. 

Nitish's talent was discovered by former Indian cricketer MSK Prasad during age-group matches and he then subsequently trained at the Andhra Cricket Association academy in Kadapa. He made headlines in the 2017–18 Vijay Merchant Trophy, scoring a record-breaking 441 against Nagaland and finishing the tournament with 1,237 runs at an average of 176.41, along with 26 wickets. His outstanding performance earned him the BCCI’s Jagmohan Dalmiya Award for the Best Under-16 Cricketer.

An explosive middle order batter, Nitish has consistently delivered the goods for Andhra in domestic cricket. Nitish was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 20 lakh in the 2023 IPL auction but played only two matches, bowling a few overs without getting a chance to bat. He had a breakthrough season in 2024, scoring 303 runs at a strike rate of 142, and taking three wickets. His impressive performance earned him the Emerging Player of the Year Award. Subsequently, SRH retained him for Rs 6 crore ahead of the 2025 IPL auction.

After impressing in IPL 2024, Nitish was called up to the Indian team. He made his T20I debut against Bangladesh on 6 October 2024 in Gwalior, scoring 16 off 15 balls while chasing. He grabbed attention in the second match on 9 October in Delhi with a blistering 74 off 35 balls at a strike rate of 217. He also took 2/23, and was named Player of the Match.

Nitish made his Test debut for India on November 22, 2024, in Perth during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In his first match, he was India's highest scorer in the first innings with 41 runs and remained unbeaten on 38 in the second innings. In the second Test, he once again led the batting charts for India, scoring 42 runs in both innings. In the fourth Test of the same series, he brought up his maiden Test hundred. 

Beyond cricket 

As of 2025, the 21-year-old cricketer's net worth is estimated to be Rs 6 crore, but is expected to grow rapidly after his recent heroics at the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Besides his match fees from the BCCI, Nitish has earned a total of Rs 6.20 crore from the IPL so far. 

The young cricketer has also been making money from brand endorsements. Last year, Puma roped in Nitish as one of its brand ambassadors. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy Records 

Nitish Kumar Reddy T20I records 

• First Indian to score over 70 runs and take two wickets in the same match (2024): achieved against Bangladesh in October. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy Test records 

• First ever century by an No.8 Indian batter in Australia (2024): achieved in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 when he scored an unbeaten 105.

• Youngest Boxing Day Test Centurion For India (2024): achieved in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 when he scored an unbeaten 105 at the age of 21. 

• Most sixes in a single series in Australia by an Indian (2024): achieved in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with eight sixes. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy IPL records 

• Most sixes in an innings by a SRH batter (2024): he hit eight sixes against Rajasthan Royals, and tied this record with David Warner, Manish Pandey, Heinrich Klaasen and Travis Head.