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Nitish Kumar Reddy politely put the India vs Afghanistan pre-match press conference on hold as he had to receive his mother’s phone call. Kumar was in the media proceedings when the phone rang.
He picked up the phone as soon as he found his mother on the other end, and the Team India star apologetically paused the press conference to talk with his mother. Nitish Kumar Reddy resumed the press conference and assured his mother that he would call her back.
Nitish Kumar Reddy won the hearts of the cricket fans
It was a heartfelt and must-watch moment for all the aspiring talents who want to become stars in the future. “Sorry, I have to pick this,” Reddy politely told the journalists before receiving the call. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s gesture was an example of how a child should always behave with his parents, even after becoming one of the leading talents in the game, and how to balance professional and personal life.
The post-match presser can wait but a call from Mom simply cannot 😊#TeamIndia | #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @NKReddy07 pic.twitter.com/23OUBNZvYH
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 13, 2026
It was a memorable game for Nitish Kumar Reddy. In the absence of Hardik Pandya, Reddy is now the only seam bowling all-rounder in the present ODI team. After going wicket-less for four matches since making his debut in the One Day Internationals, he claimed his first wicket yesterday, against Afghanistan in the fifth ODI match of his career.
Reddy got his first wicket in ODIs
For his first ODI wicket, Reddy castled the centurion Rahmanullah Gurbaz. A yorker from the seamer Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled how the Afghanistan opener, who scored the fastest century for Afghanistan, and second fastest against Team India in the format, after the former Pakistan star Shahid Afridi.
For the second wicket, the Indian all-rounder clinched Mohammad Nabi. In the rain-threatened match in Dharamshala, Nitish Kumar Reddy returned with a couple of wickets in his 4-over spell for 31 runs only.
India defeated Afghanistan with ease, by 7 wickets and 13 balls to spare. Batting first, Afghanistan registered 194 runs for 10 wickets with the help of Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 102-run knock from 51 deliveries.
Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey, two debutants for India, were brilliant with the ball yesterday as both of them claimed 3 wickets each.
Shubman Gill praised his bowlers
After the match, Team India skipper Shubman Gill praised both of the emerging bowlers. The skipper was impressed to see how the tall seamer, Gurnoor Brar, delivered with control from the beginning of his first over, and Harsh Dubey, the spinner, who made a brilliant comeback after conceding a costly first over.
“Very impressive, upfront, how Gurnoor bowled, brilliant pace and the way he was swinging the ball, the kind of length he bowled consistently, and even Harsh as well, after I think in the first over, he went for 16-17 runs, and the way he pulled the game back, trusted himself and kept tossing the ball up. It was very impressive,” Shubman Gill said.
Nitish Kumar Reddy also improved his bowling. During the IPL 2026 season with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, the seamer’s improved pace was visible in the season. With improved pace, Reddy is now capable of delivering 140 KPMH deliveries.
