Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy fondly recalled a memorable moment with his idol, Virat Kohli, during a promotional event with Puma. Nitish shared how he found himself in an amusing yet high-stakes situation when Kohli offered his shoes to teammates in the locker room.
“Inside the locker room, Kohli once asked Sarfaraz Khan, ‘Sarfu, what’s your shoe size?’ to which Sarfaraz replied, ‘Nine.’ Then he looked at me, and I thought, ‘Oh no, I have to get this right,’ because even if the shoes didn’t fit, I still wanted them,” Nitish said. Taking a chance, he confidently answered, “10,” and to his delight, Kohli handed over the prized footwear.
What made the moment even more special was that he wore those shoes in his next match and went on to score a century.
Unforgettable Century and Virat Kohli’s Words
Nitish had a stellar season for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, scoring 303 runs and taking three wickets under Pat Cummins’ captaincy. However, his most cherished memory came during his debut against Bangladesh and later in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Following his incredible century in Melbourne, Nitish found himself eagerly waiting for just two people—his father and Virat Kohli.
“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,” he shared.
Nitish also looked for his father in the stands but couldn’t spot him. Later, he saw on the big screen that his father was in tears, an emotional sight that further strengthened his gratitude towards his family. He credited his father and uncle for their unwavering support throughout his cricketing journey.
Travis Head’s Playful Sledging
Apart from his admiration for Kohli, Nitish also shared a fun encounter with his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Travis Head during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Australian batter, known for his on-field antics, tried to unsettle Nitish with some playful sledging.
“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,’” Nitish recalled with a laugh. Understanding the mind games, Nitish played along, replying, “Okay, Travis, one day we’ll both go and party!” In another match, Head, fielding at short leg, jokingly warned him, “Nitish, if you hit me, I’ll hit you when you bowl!”
With such experiences shaping his career, Nitish Kumar Reddy continues to rise as a promising all-rounder, learning from legends and making his mark in international cricket.
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