India’s all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, recently shared an interesting anecdote that connects his first-ever Test century to a light-hearted interaction with former captain Virat Kohli. During an interview on PUMA’s YouTube channel, Reddy recalled a moment in the dressing room that led to Kohli gifting him a pair of shoes. The incident unfolded when Kohli jokingly asked his teammate Sarfaraz Khan about his shoe size. When Sarfaraz mentioned size nine, Kohli turned to Reddy, who, eager to receive the shoes, quickly guessed his size as 10. Kohli then handed him the pair, which Reddy wore during his memorable knock of 100 runs off 171 balls against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). “I wore those shoes and scored a hundred in the next match!” Reddy said with a smile.
Reflecting on his landmark achievement, Reddy expressed how deeply emotional the moment was for him, particularly as his father, Mutyalu, was in the stands among the 80,000 fans. Though congratulated by teammates in the dressing room, Reddy’s eyes searched the crowd for his father. “I was hoping he’d come and talk to me. When Virat bhai (Kohli) walked up and praised my performance, that moment itself was incredibly special,” Reddy shared. It was only later when he saw his father on the big screen, visibly moved, that the emotional weight of the moment truly hit home.
Reddy also recounted a playful interaction with his Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) teammate, Australian cricketer Travis Head, during the Test series. Head tried to distract Reddy with some cheeky sledging, asking where he would be partying in Melbourne, knowing full well that Reddy was focused on the match. “I just told him, ‘Okay, Travis, one day we’ll both go and party!’” he chuckled. Head, who was fielding at short leg, even jokingly warned Reddy, “If you hit me, I’ll hit you when you bowl!”
Looking ahead to IPL 2025, Reddy shared his strong connection with SRH, the team he will represent in the upcoming season. He revealed that despite receiving offers from other franchises, his heart was with SRH. “It feels like home. They’ve shown faith in me, and I want to repay that by performing well and bringing the cup back to SRH,” Reddy said. The bond with the team, especially with his Telugu-speaking teammates, makes SRH feel like a second family. “The Orange Army’s support is immense, and the energy in the stadium is something special,” he concluded.
This blend of personal stories and professional ambition reflects Reddy’s determination to continue making his mark on the cricketing world, both for India and SRH.
This news was provided by Cricket Betting Tips.
