HYDERABAD: Nitish Kumar Reddy, the toast of the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), has been named in the Indian side that will tour Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series from July 6 to 14.
The Visakhapatnam lad was called up to the side that will be led by Shubman Gill. The 21-year-old all-rounder won the emerging player of the year award with his show for runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Speaking to TOI from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, Nitish said, “I was not expecting to be selected so early. It’s my dream to play for the country and to be able to make it so quickly makes it sweet.”
IPL success fast-tracked him to the Indian team, he said. “After my performance in the IPL, I thought of my dream. To be able to realise it is unbelievable,” he added.
Nitish scored 303 runs in 13 matches for SRH with an impressive strike rate of 142.92. He hit two half-centuries in the season showcasing his prowess with the bat. But he is keen to perform as an all-rounder.
“I have been working on my bowling. If I get a chance to play for the country on the tour, I want to make the best of it to showcase my all-round abilities,” he asserted.
Nitish’s selection was a pleasant surprise for his father Mutyal Reddy. “Not even in my wildest dreams have I thought he would make it to the Indian team. But I am delighted. Hopefully he will prove his talent and become a regular,” he said.
Former chairman of national selection committee MSK Prasad was also happy with the ACA academy boy’s success. “I am so happy that finally our academies started in 2013 have started yielding fruits. Nitish graduated through U-16 & U-19 academy. I am proud of him,” he said.
If he gets into the XI, Nitish will join the likes of MSK Prasad (Tests), Venugopal Rao (ODIs), G Hanuma Vihari and KS Bharat (Tests), all Andhra players to have played for the country.
