Nitish Kumar Reddy, the young Indian all-rounder, has recently made headlines with his remarkable performance during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he scored his maiden Test century against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). What made this achievement even more special was a heartfelt connection with former Indian captain Virat Kohli, who gifted him a pair of shoes that played a pivotal role in his success on the pitch.
Reflecting on the experience, Reddy shared a light-hearted anecdote from the dressing room during the series. "Back in the locker room, he (Kohli) once asked Sarfaraz (Khan), ‘Sarfu, tera size kya hai?’ (Sarfaraz, what’s your shoe size?), and he said, ‘Nine.’ Then he turned to me, and I thought, ‘Oh my god, I have to guess this correctly,’ because even if they weren’t my size, I really wanted his shoes. I said, ‘10,’ and he gave them to me. In the next match, I wore those shoes and scored a hundred!" Reddy recounted in a podcast on PUMA's YouTube channel.
Reddy’s remarkable century came in just 171 balls and was a moment of triumph not just for him, but for his family as well. After securing his hundred, he scanned the stands for his father, Mutyalu, who was among roughly 80,000 fans present at the stadium. "Everyone in the dressing room came up and congratulated me, but I was just looking for one guy—hoping he’d come and talk to me. When Virat bhai (Kohli) finally walked up and told me I had played a wonderful game, that moment itself was special for me. I was also scanning the stands for my father but couldn’t find him. Later, I saw on the screen that he was crying," Reddy shared.
In addition to his on-field achievements, Reddy also reminisced about his interactions with other players, particularly with his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate, Travis Head. During their time in Australia, Head attempted to distract him with some playful sledging, urging him to explore Melbourne's nightlife. "Travis came up to me and said, ‘Nitish, where are you going to party tonight?’—knowing fully well that I wouldn’t. Then he went on, ‘Australia is such a great place. Melbourne is an amazing city, you have to go out and chill.’" Reddy chuckled as he recalled the banter and how he playfully responded that they would party together someday.
Looking ahead, Reddy is set to join the Sunrisers Hyderabad for the IPL 2025 season, a commitment that holds a personal significance for him. "To be honest, I got some offers. But SRH is one team which I can really connect with. Like, it’s a home team for me. It feels like you’re representing your home team and want to make a wonderful impact in that team. I just want to perform well and bring that cup back to SRH, and they have shown absolute faith in me," Reddy stated, showing a clear desire to build on his recent successes.
As he prepares for the upcoming IPL campaign, which kicks off with a home match against Rajasthan Royals on March 23, 2025, Reddy expressed his enthusiasm. Mentioning the overwhelming support from the Sunrisers fans, also known as the Orange Army, he said, "When I play for the team, whenever someone comes to talk to me in Telugu, they take me as kind of their own brother. Like, someone known to them is playing for their home team. Obviously, Orange Army, that thing is huge and they support really well."
With aspirations to solidify his position in both international cricket and the IPL, Nitish Kumar Reddy's journey is just beginning. His dedication and loyalty to Sunrisers Hyderabad reflect his commitment to making a lasting impact in the world of cricket, bringing fans along for the ride.
