Watch: Nitish Kumar Reddy pauses his press conference to take a call from his mother — IND vs AFG 1st ODI

India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first ODI at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Chasing 195 in the rain-shortened 25-over contest, India reached the target with more than two overs to spare, with captain Shubman Gill leading from the front.

While Gill's match-winning performance grabbed headlines, young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy won hearts off the field with a wholesome moment after the game. Nitish was attending the post-match press conference at the HPCA Stadium when he received a phone call from his mother and briefly paused the media interaction to answer it.

The heartwarming clip was later shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India on social media and quickly went viral among fans. The touching moment added another memorable chapter to India's successful outing in Dharamsala.

Watch the video here:

A moment nobody expected — Nitish Reddy's mother calls him live on camera

Nitish Kumar Reddy played an important role in India's victory by taking the key wickets of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Nabi. His dismissal of Gurbaz proved crucial, as the Afghan opener had already scored a century and looked capable of taking the game further away from India.

However, it was a heartwarming moment after the match that caught everyone's attention. While speaking to reporters during the post-match press conference in Dharamsala, Nitish received a phone call from his mother and briefly paused the interaction to answer it.

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The young all-rounder spoke to his mother politely, and fans loved the wholesome exchange. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also shared the clip on social media with a humorous caption: "The post-match presser can wait, but a call from Mom simply cannot." The video has since gone viral, with fans praising Nitish's respectful gesture.

Nitish Kumar Reddy's star turn in IND vs AFG 1st ODI — What he said at the press conference

The first ODI against Afghanistan was a big opportunity for Nitish Kumar Reddy. Had Hardik Pandya been available for the series, Reddy's chances of making the playing XI would have been limited. However, after Pandya withdrew before the series, the young all-rounder got the chance to prove himself on the international stage.

Reddy made an immediate impact with the ball. He dismissed Afghanistan's biggest threat, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who had smashed a brilliant century off just 51 balls and was looking set for an even bigger score. The wicket helped India gain control of the match. With the bat, Reddy did not get an opportunity as captain Shubman Gill guided India to victory with an unbeaten 84-run knock.

After the match, Reddy attended the post-match press conference, where he was asked about India's win, his crucial wicket of Gurbaz, and his bowling performance. The young all-rounder answered the questions confidently and impressed with his calm and mature approach. Although the BCCI has not yet released the full video of his press conference, his on- and off-field performance left a strong impression on fans.

India's dominant win — How Nitish Reddy and Shubman Gill sealed it in Dharamsala

Shubman Gill etched his name into the record books during the first ODI against Afghanistan, becoming the fastest Indian batter to reach 3,000 ODI runs. The Indian captain achieved the milestone in just 63 innings — the fewest by any Indian batter in the history of the format — surpassing the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Sourav Ganguly to claim the record outright.

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Gill's record-breaking knock was as authoritative as it was historic. The right-hander remained unbeaten on 84 off 66 balls, striking 11 fours and two sixes as India chased down Afghanistan's 195-run target in just 22.5 overs. It was the kind of innings that has become a hallmark of Gill's ODI batting — calculated, dominant, and built for big moments.

KL Rahul provided the finishing touch with a blazing 39 not out off just 19 deliveries, hitting four fours and three sixes to close out the chase in style. Rahul sealed the win by carting Azmatullah Omarzai through the boundary on the fifth ball of his fourth over, giving India a commanding seven-wicket victory and a 1-0 lead in the series.