The cricket world still remembers the day Nitish Kumar Reddy stormed the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a century on his debut tour of Australia. His 114-run innings was a moment to cherish, not just for him, but also for his emotional father watching from the stands. What’s interesting is that Reddy’s century had an unusual contributor – Virat Kohli’s shoes.
A century in Virat’s shoes
In a YouTube podcast, Reddy revealed how he wore Kohli’s shoes to score that memorable century. He recalled asking Sarfaraz Khan about his shoe size in the locker room. When Kohli overheard the conversation, he offered Reddy his own shoes, which happened to be a size 9. Reddy, who wears a size 10, was thrilled to take them anyway. The rest, as they say, is history. Reddy went on to score a century in the very next match, wearing Kohli’s shoes.
Waiting for Virat’s nod
After his impressive performance at the MCG, Reddy received accolades from his teammates, but he was waiting for a special acknowledgement. He said, “The moment Virat brother came up to me and said I played well, it was a very special moment for me.”
Currently, Reddy has been struggling with a nagging injury, which had put his IPL 2025 participation in doubt. Fortunately, he has received a clean bill of health from the BCCI’s Center of Excellence, and he’s all set to take the field. The Sunrisers Hyderabad has retained him for IPL 2025 at a whopping 6 crores.
The story of Reddy’s century in Kohli’s shoes is a testament to the camaraderie and sportsmanship in the cricket world. It shows that even the smallest gestures, like lending a pair of shoes, can make a big difference in a player’s journey. As Reddy prepares for his next match, he’ll undoubtedly carry the memory of that special century, and the shoes that made it possible, with him.
