Virat Kohli’s Gift: How His Shoes Fueled Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Historic BGT Century
Nitish Kumar Reddy on IPL, Kohli’s Influence & Travis Head’s Sledging Antics
BNH NETWORK
Bengaluru, March 20, 2025: As IPL 2025 fever grips cricket fans, 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy sat down with PUMA India for an exclusive chat, revealing how a simple gesture from Virat Kohli turned into an unforgettable moment in his career.
During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Nitish found himself at the receiving end of a special gift from Kohli—a pair of cricket shoes. What followed was a fairytale knock at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where he became the first Indian batter to score a Test century in Australia from No. 8. The innings also placed him among an elite club of Indian centurions in Australia, alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant.
“Virat bhai asked Sarfaraz (Khan) about his shoe size, then turned to me. I thought, ‘I have to get this right,’ so I said ‘10.’ He handed me the shoes. The next match, I wore them and scored a hundred!” Nitish recounted on the podcast, later revealing that he had his bat and those same shoes signed by Kohli.
A Star in the Making: IPL, BGT Glory & Travis Head’s Sledging
Nitish’s rise to prominence has been nothing short of phenomenal. With a crucial role in his team’s IPL final run last season—scoring 303 runs and taking three wickets under the leadership of Pat Cummins—he has solidified himself as one of India’s most promising all-rounders. Seeking advice from Hardik Pandya and making an impressive debut in Bangladesh before his BGT heroics, Nitish is hungry for more success.
During the chat, he shared a lighter side of his time in Australia, including playful sledging from his IPL teammate Travis Head. “Travis kept asking me where I was going to party in Melbourne, knowing I wouldn’t. Then, while fielding at short leg, he warned me, ‘Nitish, if you hit me, I’ll hit you when you bowl!’”
FACT FILE
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 21 |
| BGT Century | First Indian to score a Test century in Australia from No. 8 |
| IPL 2024 Stats | 303 runs, 3 wickets |
| BGT Sixes Record | Most sixes by an Indian in a Test series in Australia |
| Key Mentors | Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya |
| Hobbies | Anime (Naruto), Gaming |
| PUMA India Association | Joined in 2024 |
A Dream Moment with Kohli & Emotional Connection with Family
Despite the celebrations after his Melbourne hundred, Nitish was searching for just two people—his idol Kohli and his father. “Everyone congratulated me, but I was looking for Virat bhai. When he finally came and told me I played a wonderful game, that moment was special. Then, I searched for my father in the stands but couldn’t find him. Later, I saw on the screen that he was crying.”
Having been guided by his father and uncle since childhood, the young star cherished the moment of saluting the tricolour in front of 80,000 fans with them in attendance.
Off the Field: Anime, Gaming & Next-Gen Camaraderie
Beyond cricket, Nitish is a die-hard Naruto fan and enjoys collecting action figures. “I introduced it to Abhishek Sharma, but he still calls it cartoons just to annoy me!” he laughed. When not debating anime, Nitish unwinds by gaming with friends, calling it his ultimate stressbuster.
Coming up the ranks alongside Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, and other U-19 stars, Nitish takes pride in their shared journey. “We’ve all worked hard, and it’s paying off now. I love their energy on the field.”
PUMA India & Rising Star Status
Nitish joined PUMA India’s elite roster in 2024, alongside sports icons like PV Sindhu, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mohammed Shami, and MC Mary Kom. His growing stature in Indian cricket marks him as a key player to watch in IPL 2025 and beyond
