BGT 2024-25: Nitish Kumar Reddy Thrilled by Virat Kohli's 81st Century

New Delhi, Dec 5 (NationPress) All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy had an unforgettable Test debut where his scores of 41 and 38 not out, alongside taking a wicket, played a crucial role in the young players' significant contribution to the 295-run victory over Australia at Perth.

Reddy received his debut cap from his idol Virat Kohli and was at the crease as he witnessed Kohli score an unbeaten century in the second innings. He reminisced about the time he took a selfie from a distance with Kohli and Anushka Sharma during the 2018 BCCI awards, to making his Test debut in the playing eleven alongside the legendary batter.

"This was a safety photo; at that time he (Virat Kohli) was so famous. I thought if I miss my chance for a photo, let's capture this moment now. It reminds me of my childhood memories. Since childhood, I was a huge fan of Virat bhaiya. I watched every match, hoping he would score a hundred and celebrate. I loved his celebration – back then, I used to calculate my age just to see if he would retire before I made my debut for India."

“Now, playing alongside him, I was watching him approach ten runs, then five runs, thinking he’s close to his hundred. I didn’t even realize I was near my first fifty in Tests—just needing 12 runs. I was incredibly pumped up when he achieved his 81st hundred, and it was such a fantastic moment to witness,” Reddy shared in a video posted on bcci.tv.

Reddy, who made his T20I debut in October, also reflected on the sacrifices his father made by leaving his government job to support his cricketing aspirations in Visakhapatnam. “Honestly, I wasn't serious during my younger years. My father gave up his job for me. There’s been a lot of sacrifice in my journey.”

“One day, I saw him crying due to financial issues, and it hit me that I needed to work hard. My father made this sacrifice, and I was just enjoying cricket for fun. That’s when I took it seriously, and within a year, my efforts paid off.”

“Everyone said, ‘Mutyala Reddy, you made your son go this far’. As the son of a middle-class family, I feel immense pride that my father is so happy now. I gave him my first jersey, and seeing his happiness made me incredibly proud,” he elaborated.

He mentioned how KL Rahul's advice helped him during his debut in Perth. “I was a bit nervous at first about how to interact with players I had seen on TV growing up. So, if I faced any issues, I wanted to talk to KL bhai. I always felt good vibes from him; whatever suggestions he offered seemed to work for me.”

“He once told me, ‘Macha, when you’re out in the center, everything moves so fast. Don’t rush; just slow down the game.’ My first match felt like everything happened in seconds, and that really helped me before I batted in my debut match.”

Reddy expressed his passion for shadow practice before games. “I enjoy doing a lot of shadow practice. During that time, I visualize the bowlers I will face and the shots I can play according to the situation. When I actually encounter them, it feels like ‘Arey, I’ve already practiced against them in shadow practice’. That’s how I keep my routine straightforward.”

As the second game approaches in Adelaide on Friday, Reddy concluded by expressing his eagerness to play Test cricket with the pink ball, having already experienced it by scoring 42 in the practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI at the Manuka Oval.

“I’m so excited; I had a great debut, and I want to continue contributing to the team. With the pink ball, I want to see how much swing I can generate as a fast bowler. When I faced the first ball in the practice match, I left it and observed how it behaved.”

“I aim to maintain my hunger for good performances. I believe I perform well in three dimensions, and I want to assist the team in any way they require, which is my primary focus.”