Bhubaneswar: As a jubilant Netherlands reels under its mammoth win against West Indies in the recent ODI World Cup qualification, meet the India-born cricketer who steered the team to the famous victory. Born in Vijayawada, was a business development manager for a workflow management company as of 2021. A software engineer by profession, Nidamanuru plays for the Netherlands cricket team and has also played for Auckland in New Zealand domestic cricket.

He grabbed the spotlight when his 76-ball 111 drove Netherlands to a brilliant win over West Indies and almost knocked the two-time champions out of the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. In a free-wheeling conversation, the ace cricketer talks about his journey and playing one of the best innings in his ODI career so far:

Q:  You were born in India, learnt cricket in New Zealand, got a job in Netherlands and now hope to play the World Cup in India. How has the journey been so far? Could you tell us more about your struggle to reach this point as a cricketer?

A: Yes I am born in India, Vijayawada, AP. I lived there with my grandparents for first 6 years of my life. My grandfather was the one who started me on cricket and got me my first cricket bat. My mum got a job in New Zealand and that’s why we moved over to New Zealand. I started playing for a club in New Zealand from the age of 8 called cornwall cricket club in Auckland and that’s where my cricket journey started. I was part of the representative age group teams for Auckland and played for the first class side called Auckland Aces in T20 and List A cricket before moving to the Netherlands for work reasons. After living in the Netherlands full time with work for over three years I qualified to play for the national team.

My journey has been long and hard, I’ve faced many difficult situations and life choices but always had good people around me in New Zealand and now in the Netherlands to help me on my journey. I work a full time job so my cricket training happens early in the morning and then later in the evening after work in the Netherlands. I truly believe in hard-work and dedication towards my goals and remain consistent. There is a lot of hours and time that gets put into me playing the way I do and have a lot of people to thank for it as well.

Q: With a fantastic hundred against West Indies, your dream has come true. Did you believe Netherlands will qualify for World Cup?

A: I truly do believe that we have the talent to and the team to qualify for the World Cup in India. We have a talented group of players who are all pushing in one direction and a coaching staff that is organized, motivated, committed to us as a group which we hugely value. I am really happy to be contributing to the team’s success in whatever shape that maybe and will continue to do my best.

Q: How much time do you give to cricket while working? Was it difficult juggling work with cricket?

A: Yes of course it’s one of the most difficult things I’ve done. But I see it as a motivation and a challenge to keep going and to keep getter.  I have a growth mindset/mentality to always learn to listen and take in what is needed. With this mindset there are hard days and days that I have failed but it ensures that I keep moving forward, which is most important to me as a person and as a cricketer. I wish to play cricket full time so hopefully that can happen in the near future.

Q: Did you have the support of your family? Given your love for cricket, were you confident of pursuing it professionally?

A: I’ve always been an independent person and I grew up slightly different to the rest of the people you can due to personal circumstances. But I haven’t let this effect me. But people in New Zealand, Netherlands and my family in India have been supporting. It’s more about the love for the game of cricket that keeps me going. Of course I gain confidence from training and executing my skills but definitely confident in my ability due to my work ethic.

Q: How do you see India in the World Cup? Which Indian player is your favourite?

A: India at home playing a World Cup is something amazing due to the amazing crowds and fans that come to the games it’s like having an extra player for the team on the field. Along with that the talented and extremely skilled players that they are they will be my favorites to win the tournament. My favorite player is Virat Kohli for sure, the way he bats, with confidence, the determination he has, the way he is on and off the field is a great example for me as a person and think very highly of him, definitely my role model.

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