Family’s hand in getting Nitish ‘Reddy’ for cricket

Melbourne: The decibel levels at the near-full Melbourne Cricket Stadium after Nitish Reddy reached his maiden Test hundred on Saturday would have registered on the Richter scale. The collective appreciation noise by both Indian and Aussie fans was so deafening that it had Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley exclaim: "The roar of the crowd was nothing that I have ever heard before!"

The moment resonated beyond the boundary ropes, as Nitish’s family became the focal point of attention. His father, Mutyalu Reddy, along with his mother Sharmila, sister Tejaswi, and brother, were invited to the ABC commentary box on Sunday. There, they had an emotional encounter with Sunil Gavaskar, Mutyalu’s childhood idol.

Overwhelmed by the moment, Mutyalu fell at Gavaskar’s feet. The family shared warm interactions with the legendary cricketer, an exchange that quickly went viral after ABC posted the video on social media.

"I was a little tense when (last man) Siraj walked in to bat," Mutyalu told the Indian media of his emotions when Nitish was stuck on 99 on Saturday. "I wasn't sure how he would play. Even feared he might get out. (But) Thanks to Siraj bhai, he played three dot balls and supported my son," Mutyalu added.

Mutayalu left his 23-year-long job with the central government to support Nitish's cricket after he was transferred to Udaipur. 

"At that time, he was picked for the Under-14 state team," he recalled. "I was confused whether to go or not, he had not even played State U-14. Coaches said he played cricket very well. So we both (he and his wife) sat and spoke about it – and even now I am thankful to her – and realised that if I go there to work, I will earn money and make the children study. So why not do it from here itself? So, I will resign. 

"She didn't ask me a single question, 'why are you resigning at this time or stuff like that. If she had said one word, I would have gone off to Udaipur. She had no interest in sport, she was interested in education. I was interested in sports. So I told her, 'your father wanted you to study to be a doctor, you do that with our daughter. But let him (Nitish) be, I will get him into sports and cricket'." 

Mutyalu revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic made Nitish become serious about his cricket. 

"When Covid happened, he was at home for two years," he said. "His mindset changed then but until then, he was casual though he had played U-14 and U-16 cricket. In those two years at home, he realised the hardships we were all undergoing. He saw first-hand and experienced the hardships.

"Then he realised that whatever happens, I must play cricket because I must get people to see my father in a good light. Till Under-19, I used to take him to the ground from 6.00 am. His mother would get up at 3 or 4 am, make eggs and boil milk etc. I would take him to the ground and bring him back."

Later in the day, Nitish said he couldn't be more grateful for what his father has done for him.
"When I was nothing, the first person who believed in me was my father," he began. "He believed in me and resigned from his job for me. He took me to the ground, gym, wherever and whenever I needed to go. He made a lot of sacrifices, if I have to tell you all that, time won't be sufficient, but I am so grateful to have a father like him."