IND vs AFG 1st ODI: Nitish Kumar Reddy Takes Mother’s Call During Post-Match Press Conference (WATCH)

Following India's ODI win against Afghanistan, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy's post-match press conference went viral. The cricketer paused the interaction to take a call from his mother, a heartwarming gesture that won praise from fans for prioritizing family.

Team India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy had a heartwarming moment during the post-match press conference following the Men in Blue’s first ODI match against Afghanistan at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Saturday, June 13.

India, led by Shubman Gill, took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series with a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in a 25-over contest due to rain. Chasing a 195-run target, Gill’s unbeaten captain’s knock of 84 off 66 balls, and KL Rahul’s fiery 19-ball 39 not out anchored the successful chase with 2.1 overs to spare.

Earlier, Gurnoor Brar (3/27), Harsh Dubey (3/47), Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/31), and Arshdeep Singh (2/27) combined to dismantle Afghanistan’s batting lineup, restricting them to 194/9 in their allotted 25 overs.

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Heartwarming Moment Goes Viral

As Team India defeated Afghanistan in the ODI series opener, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s post-match media interaction became the talk of the town for reasons beyond his clinical bowling display.

While addressing the press conference after the match, Nitish received a call from his mother, Manasa Reddy. Instead of letting it go to voicemail, the 23-year-old immediately checked his phone, which was resting near the microphones. With a sheepish grin and a polite nod to the journalists, he said, “Sorry, I have to pick up this.”

The candid moment was caught on the broadcasting mics, as he briefly spoke to his mother in Telugu and said that he would "call back in five minutes" (Amma, nenu malli chesthanu, five minutes). The clip was then posted on BCCI’s official X handle (formerly Twitter) and later went viral on social media.

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

Nitish Kumar Reddy might’ve taken a couple of wickets to help set up the victory, but it was this simple, human gesture that truly won the hearts of cricket fans everywhere. The all-rounder demonstrated a refreshing sense of humanity, reminding onlookers that even amidst the high-pressure environment of international cricket, family remains a priority.

‘The World Can Wait’: How Fans Are Reacting to Nitish’s Viral Moment

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s heartwarming moment, wherein he picked up his mother’s call during the live press conference, sparked a wave of reactions on social media, especially X (formerly Twitter), where fans and cricket enthusiasts lauded the young star for his grounded nature and for proving that, regardless of fame or success, some connections will always remain more important than the cameras.

Taking to their X handles, fans and cricket enthusiasts praised Nitish for prioritizing his mother’s call during the press conference, with many calling the gesture relatable, respectful, and heartwarming. Several users remarked, ‘the world can wait’ for mother’s call, while others lauded his decision to answer the call rather than ignore it, despite being in the middle of an official media interaction.

Many described the gesture as a reminder that no matter how successful a cricketer becomes, family remains a constant source of support and importance.

Some calls you just have to take 🧡🫶 https://t.co/qHvi5jLFTI

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) June 14, 2026

The world can wait for this one. ❤️ https://t.co/CtU6VdN4EI

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) June 13, 2026

I must say Nitish is an obedient son.May Almighty give him long life and success in cricket.

— BISWAJIT Ganguly (@BISWAJI14988352) June 14, 2026

Absolutely brilliant 👏 what every human being should do, no matter what where when always pick up your mom's call. Love it. Respect buddy 🙏

— Dane Patrick Ingram (@DaneDdm) June 14, 2026

The innocence of the whole episode is 🤗. He could have easily ignored the call, but chose to answer it because it was his mom. No matter how big a sportsperson you become, you are still a kid infront of your mother. 👆 perfectly illustrates that.

— Sanjeev । సంజీవ్ 🇮🇳 (@sanjusayz) June 14, 2026

The real captain of every player's life: Mom. ❤️👑

— Sonu Jaat • Cricket (@TheSonuJaat) June 13, 2026

No matter how many "MoM" titles a player wins in his career, the one who values and respects their own "MoM" most is the true champion! 😎🏏

Respect! 👏🫡❤

— Raj Aryan (@aryan_raj_tough) June 13, 2026

Appreciated....nothing wrong taking call of Mom, during media conference.

— Venugopal (@venu_gopal_m) June 13, 2026

Dont dare to ignore mom's call 🤣🤣

— Pa1 పటేల్ 🇮🇳 (@Pa1_Patel23) June 14, 2026

Century? Celebrated. Press conference? Delayed. Mom's call? Picked in 2 seconds. That's not unprofessional — that's well-raised. Some connections matter more than cameras. Some voices matter more than microphones.

— newsJi (@workwithjimi365) June 14, 2026

The world can wait for this one. ❤️ https://t.co/CtU6VdN4EI

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) June 13, 2026

Everything can wait when mom calls https://t.co/whudZutccc

— kashyap (@KashyapSuraaj) June 13, 2026

Meanwhile, after defeating Afghanistan in the first ODI of the three-match series, Team India will look to take an unassailable 2-0 lead when they face the visitors in the second ODI at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, June 17.