Nitish Reddy was playing age-group cricket when he won the best young player at the NAMAN awards. Reddy spotted Virat Kohli along with his wife Anushka Sharma at the awards. Since he was very young at that point, he couldn't really go up to him and ask for a photo, so he clicked a selfie ensuring that Kohli was somehow in the frame. It was for the keeps for Reddy but who knew, five years later, he will be batting alongside Kohli in a Test match in Australia on his debut.
“This was a safety photo. At that time, he was so famous. I felt like maybe if I don’t get a photo, let’s take a picture," Reddy said on bcci.tv. "It reminds me of my childhood dreams and everything. From childhood, I am a huge fan of Virat Kohli and I used to watch every match of his. He scores hundreds and I like his celebrations. At that time, I used to calculate my age so that he doesn’t retire when I make my debut for India," he added.
Nitish also got to be part of the century moment for Virat Kohli, a first in 18 months for the batting stalwart, as India strengthened their position in the Perth Test following a huge 201-run opening partnership after having received his Test cap from the man himself.
“I was watching Virat bhai score the hundred, and didn’t realise that I was close to my first fifty. I was so pumped up and celebrating his 81st hundred, it was a great moment for me in my life,” Reddy added.
Reddy gave a good account of himself in his first Test scoring 41* and 38* in the two innings while dismissing Mitchell Marsh to take his maiden wicket with the ball in the fourth innings. Reddy has been fast-tracked to the national team and the performances have matched the promise so far.
