Chapter 16: Debuting at the age of 37 and Highest paid IPL Player

Despite being overlooked for several years, Nitish remained focused on his goal of playing for India. He continued to perform consistently in domestic cricket and in the IPL, and his hard work finally paid off when he received a call-up to the Indian team. However, Nitish's debut came at a much later age than most cricketers.

At the age of 37, Nitish finally got his chance to play for India. He was thrilled to receive the call-up, but he knew that he had a lot to prove. He had been performing consistently for years, and he was determined to make the most of this opportunity.

Unfortunately, Nitish did not get a chance to play for India in his first series. He was disappointed, but he did not lose hope. He continued to work hard on his game, knowing that his chance would come eventually.

In the meantime, Nitish continued to play in the IPL, and he was a key player for his team. He had established himself as one of the best all-rounders in the tournament, and he was in high demand during the 2022 auction. In fact, he was sold to RCB for a whopping 17.5 crores, which was the highest bid for any player in the tournament.

Nitish was thrilled to be playing for RCB, and he was determined to help his team win the tournament. He knew that he had a lot to offer, both with bat and ball, and he was eager to prove himself on the field.

Throughout the tournament, Nitish played a crucial role for RCB. He scored runs consistently and took wickets at crucial moments, helping his team win several important matches. His performances earned him the respect and admiration of his teammates, as well as the fans.

In the end, RCB made it to the final of the tournament, and Nitish played a key role in getting them there. Although they lost the final, Nitish had shown once again that he was one of the best all-rounders in the world. His performances in the IPL had proven that he was worth every penny of the 17.5 crores that RCB had paid for him.

It was a day that Nitish would never forget. After years of waiting and working hard, he finally received the call to join the Indian cricket team for the South Africa series. At the age of 37, it was a dream come true for the veteran all-rounder.

The first match of the series was being held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Nitish was nervous but excited to make his debut for the national team. The Indian captain won the toss and elected to bat first.

As the opening batsmen walked out to the crease, Nitish could feel his heart racing. He was determined to make the most of his opportunity and prove that age was just a number.

The South African bowlers made an early breakthrough, dismissing the Indian opener in the second over. Nitish walked in at number three, and from the first ball, he looked in fine form. He was timing the ball beautifully and scoring runs all around the ground.

As he approached his half-century, the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium was on their feet. It was an electric atmosphere as Nitish brought up his maiden half-century in his debut match.

He continued to score runs at a brisk pace and was eventually dismissed for 89 off just 47 balls. His innings included 12 boundaries and 3 sixes.

When the South Africans came out to bat, Nitish was given the ball in the ninth over. He started off with a good length delivery, which the batsman played straight back to him.

On his second delivery, Nitish bowled a slower ball, which deceived the batsman completely. The ball hit the top of off-stump, and Nitish had his first wicket in international cricket.

On his third delivery, Nitish bowled a perfect yorker, which the batsman could only manage to get an inside edge onto his stumps. The crowd erupted as Nitish was on a hat-trick.

The next batsman came in, and Nitish was charging in with all his might. He bowled a short delivery, which the batsman tried to pull, but only managed to top-edge it. The ball flew towards the fine-leg region, where the fielder took a simple catch.

Nitish had done it. He had taken a hat-trick on his debut for the Indian cricket team. The entire stadium was on their feet, and Nitish was being congratulated by his teammates.

But Nitish wasn't done yet. He continued to bowl with pace and accuracy and picked up two more wickets to finish with figures of 5 for 24 in his 4 overs. It was an outstanding performance by the veteran all-rounder, and he had announced himself on the international stage in style.

The Indian team went on to win the match by a comfortable margin, and Nitish was named the player of the match for his outstanding performance with both bat and ball.

It was a moment that Nitish had been waiting for his entire career, and he had delivered when it mattered the most. He had shown that age was just a number and that if you work hard and believe in yourself, anything is possible.

From that day on, Nitish became a regular member of the Indian cricket team, and his performances in both domestic and international cricket continued to be exceptional. He had finally achieved his lifelong dream, and he had done it with style and grace.