Nitish Reddy Shares Story of Test Century Shoes from Kohli
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Synopsis
Nitish Kumar Reddy recounts how a playful moment with Virat Kohli led to him receiving shoes that he wore while scoring his first Test century against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, revealing emotional family moments and team camaraderie.
Key Takeaways
- Nitish Kumar Reddy received shoes from Virat Kohli.
- He scored his first Test century at the MCG.
- Family support was crucial during the match.
- Encounters with Travis Head showed team camaraderie.
- Nitish feels at home with the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
New Delhi, March 20 (NationPress) Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy disclosed that a playful exchange in the locker room with the iconic Virat Kohli led to him receiving a pair of shoes from the former captain. He wore these shoes when he achieved his first Test century against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
“While in the locker room, he (Kohli) asked Sarfaraz Khan, ‘Sarfu, what’s your shoe size?’, to which Sarfaraz replied, ‘Nine.’ Kohli then turned to me, and I felt the pressure to guess correctly. I wanted those shoes desperately, so I said, ‘10,’ and he handed them to me. The next match, I wore those shoes and scored a hundred!” Reddy shared during a podcast on PUMA’s YouTube channel on Thursday.
After scoring his maiden Test century in just 171 balls at Melbourne, Nitish expressed that he was searching for his father Mutyalu, who was among the 80,000 fans present at the venue with his mother, sister, and uncle. “Every player in the dressing room congratulated me, but I was focused on finding one person—hoping he would come and speak to me.
“When Virat bhai (Kohli) finally approached me and praised my performance, that moment was incredibly special. I was also scanning the stands for my father but couldn’t locate him. Later, I spotted him on the screen, and he was crying,” Reddy revealed.
Nitish also recounted a humorous moment during the Test series in Australia, where his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Travis Head attempted to distract him with some friendly banter. “Travis approached me and jokingly asked, ‘Nitish, where are you going to party tonight?’—fully aware that I wouldn’t be going out.
“Then he added, ‘Australia is such a great place. Melbourne is amazing; you should go out and enjoy.’ He was just trying to take my mind off the game. I replied, ‘Alright, Travis, one day we’ll party together!’ During another match, while fielding at short leg, he teased me, ‘Nitish, if you hit me, I’ll hit you back when you bowl!’” he laughed.
Nitish is set to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025 and expressed how challenging it was to decline overtures from other franchises to stay with a team he considers home. “Honestly, I received several offers. But SRH is a team I truly connect with. It feels like playing for my home team, and I want to make a significant impact.
“My goal is to perform well and bring the trophy back to SRH, as they have shown unwavering faith in me. It was a tough decision to say no to other franchises during the auction. My heart has always been set on playing for SRH, but it wasn’t easy to turn down those offers.
“When I play for the team, and someone speaks to me in Telugu, I feel like a brother to them. It’s as if someone familiar is representing their home team. The support from the Orange Army is immense, and the number of fans in the stadium is incredible. When those orange flags wave in the stadium, we absolutely thrive on that energy,” he concluded.
