Former India cricketer-turned-politician Manoj Tiwari has sparked a fresh and serious debate on young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s sudden decline in form and shed light on the events that followed his maiden international century in Melbourne.
Manoj Tiwari has started a new debate on the sudden decline in the form of Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Tiwari has openly blamed the unnecessary and over-enthusiastic celebrations, the presence of family members and the failure of the anti-corruption unit for Nitish Kumar Reddy’s sudden decline in form, and has described these events as a turning point in the young player’s career.
Tiwari believes that Nitish’s struggle started right after his maiden Test century against Australia at the MCG during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. While the Test match was still going on, celebrations reportedly started everywhere.
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He also told how Nitish’s father had reached the team hotel during the Test series and Sunil Gavaskar had celebrated that century in the commentary box. Cricket pundits felt that these celebrations were unnecessary, as such moments could distract a young player who is still trying to establish himself at the international level, and the same happened with Reddy.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s decline started after that innings: Manoj Tiwari
“Nitish Kumar Reddy’s downfall started after that innings. After that century, when the Test match was still going on, we saw celebrations everywhere. We saw our legends, and we respect them a lot, but Mr. Sunil Gavaskar celebrated, and there was even an incident when his father reached the team hotel,” Manoj Tiwary said during the launch of the Beyond Reach Premier League.
There were celebrations at the time in the players’ hotel rooms as well as in the commentary box and even highlights of his father were given. “This kind of unnecessary celebration affects many players and should not have been allowed at that level.”
Anti Corruption Unit inquires about Reddy’s father entering the hotel room
The Bengal minister also raised a big question on the role of anti-corruption unit. He wondered how such access and celebration was allowed in the team hotel.
He said that in a tournament like IPL, strict rules are followed with strict checking and control. If such discipline exists in the domestic leagues, he raised questions as to how things were allowed to happen during a high-profile tour.
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Tiwari further said, “Nobody asked me about it, so I didn’t say anything then. But the question should be asked: What was the anti-corruption unit doing? The anti-corruption people should not have allowed this. Even the IPL has strict rules; it was an international tour after all. So how was this celebration allowed to happen in Melbourne?”
Australia’s subsequent struggles have raised alarm bells over Reddy’s development and player management
After that Australia tour, Reddy could only score 45 runs in two Tests on the England tour, 10 runs in one Test against South Africa and 43 runs in two Tests against West Indies.
Tiwary said, “After that, I made my observation; I knew the collapse was going to happen. If you look at Nitish Kumar Reddy’s performance in Test cricket after that century, he has not made a meaningful contribution in any match. When he scored a century, it felt like we have got a genuine fast bowling all-rounder. But now, there is a need to review his development.”
In the end, the former Indian batsman has emphasized that there is a need to reconsider how Nitish’s talent is being channelized and how he is being shown the right direction. He also said that attention also needs to be paid to the way target players are managed by coaches and support staff, and that many external factors influence player performance, and such distractions should be avoided.
He signed off by saying, “Only then can a player develop consistency and perform at a high level for a long time. Fast bowling all-rounders are a rarity in India.”
Manoj Tiwari has an interesting observation about the fall of NKR
Do you agree with him? pic.twitter.com/m6SDoUVGve
– SRH fan (@GappaCricket) 17 January 2026