In a high-pressure series finale at the Holkar Stadium, Nitish Kumar Reddy has announced his arrival on the world stage with a gritty maiden ODI half-century against New Zealand. Walking into a crisis with India reeling at 71/4 and chasing a mammoth 338, the young all-rounder showed nerves of steel to stitch together a vital 88-run partnership with Virat Kohli. His innings was a perfect blend of composure and aggression, capped off by a sensational slog-sweep for six that brought the Indore crowd to its feet. However, just as he looked to guide India toward the finish line, he was caught for a well-made 53 off 57 balls, leaving Kohli to shoulder the burden once again. Despite the mid-innings setback, Reddy’s performance has provided a glimmer of hope in what seemed like a lost cause for the Men in Blue.
The Pushpa celebration: Nitish Kumar Reddy channels Allu Arjun after breakthrough maiden ODI fifty
The most iconic moment of the Indian chase occurred in the 27th over when Nitish Reddy unleashed his trademark “Pushpa” celebration after reaching his maiden ODI fifty. Facing the off-spin of Glenn Phillips, Reddy stepped across his stumps and launched a massive six over deep mid-wicket, clearing the boundary by a significant margin.
As the ball disappeared into the second tier of the Holkar Stadium, the 22-year-old turned toward the dugout and executed Allu Arjun’s famous “Thaggede Le” (I won’t back down) gesture, rubbing his hand under his chin to a thunderous roar from the local fans. This display of confidence was a statement of intent from the youngster, who had been under immense pressure following a lean run in the previous two matches of the series. By channeling the cinematic icon, Reddy signaled that he was ready for the big stage, proving to be the support act that Virat Kohli had been desperately searching for throughout the innings. While his dismissal for 53 shortly after was a blow to India’s hopes, the image of his defiant celebration has already become the defining visual of the Indore decider, marking the birth of a new fan favorite in the national colours.
Here’s the video:
A cracker to bring up his maiden ODI fifty! Well played, Nitish Kumar Reddy.#INDvNZ | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/CixSjUFkhU pic.twitter.com/hKLft9Eu0G
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 18, 2026
Also READ: IND vs NZ: Fans fume as Shreyas Iyer’s reckless shot leads to soft dismissal in ODI series decider
Indore ODI decider: Virat Kohli wars on as India chases 338 following middle-order collapse
In a high-octane series finale at the Holkar Stadium, the match stands at a critical juncture with India at 179/6 after 33 overs, still requiring a massive 159 runs to secure the trophy. After New Zealand posted a daunting 337/8, fueled by twin centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106), India’s chase was immediately derailed by the early losses of Rohit Sharma (11) and Shubman Gill (19). The crisis deepened when Shreyas Iyer (6) and KL Rahul (1) fell in quick succession to rash strokes, leaving the stadium in stunned silence.
However, a gritty 88-run partnership between Kohli and youngster Nitish Reddy briefly revived the chase, with Reddy celebrating his maiden ODI fifty (53) with a defiant Pushpa gesture before being caught. Following the recent dismissal of Ravindra Jadeja for 12, the entire nation’s hopes now rest squarely on the shoulders of Kohli (72 not out), who is currently anchoring a lone-wolf resistance against the clinical Kiwi attack. With Harshit Rana now joining the veteran at the crease, India’s undefeated home bilateral streak since 2019 hangs by a thread as the required run rate climbs toward nine per over.
Also WATCH: Virat Kohli’s playful gesture steals the show after Daryl Mitchell’s ODI century in Indore
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