Nitish Reddy: The story of sacrifices made by a middle-class family

Nitish Reddy loves his tattoos like most 21-year-olds do, and one on his ankle is a picture of 'Achilles' Heel'. He considers it a reminder of all the difficulties that his family has endured in the last 10 years to power his cricketing dream.

- Press Trust of India

MELBOURNE:

For Reddy, becoming a cricketer was both a choice and a compulsion. He wanted to do something for his parents, who gave their tears and sweat to fuel his India dream.

The middle-class family gambled with its finances to allow Reddy to soar high. The risks taken and losses suffered will not bother them now.

"Getting into the Indian team is a proud feeling but it is only 50 percent of the dream. It will be fulfilled if I can wear that jersey and win matches for my country," an emotional Reddy had told PTI in June this year. "I want to see respect for my father in the eyes of those who once tore him to shreds for believing in my talent." The maiden Test ton celebration in 'Salaar' style was a tribute to his father Mutyala, who watched his son rescue India from the stand behind the team's dugout. The journey was not just Reddy's but also of his father's sacrifices and belief that his son was special.

As a 12-year-old, Reddy overheard his relatives cursing his father for losing money in his micro-financing business after taking a voluntary retirement from service (VRS) from Hindustan Zinc. He took the decision to avoid getting transferred to Udaipur since he knew the city did not have the facilities and coaching to help his son excel as a cricketer.