The story behind the Modi look-alike and his passion for cricket

By K.R. Nayar 

Dubai. When a diary entry creates a huge impact, it’s a great feeling—especially when the person mentioned in it becomes the centre of attention, attracting numerous selfie requests at the stadium. After a few fans read my diary about the Modi look-alike, it went viral, and he was soon noticed by many spectators during the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium.

 

Modi look-alike S.P. Reddy with Sreekumaran Unni. Photo courtesy: Sreekumaran Unni 

The discovery of the Modi look-alike happened by chance, as I always keep an eye for something unique among the fans. Soon after my diary was posted, many observed his striking resemblance to Modi. Not only was he approached for photos, but he was also flooded with messages from around the world.

 

The photo which caught attention. Photo by K.R. Nayar 

One of the spectators who noticed him was Sreekumaran Unni, a passionate cricket enthusiast who rarely misses the ICC international matches. He has also nurtured his son, Nirmay, into a talented cricketer—currently playing for Kerala's Under-15 team. Unni revealed that the Modi look-alike’s name was S.P. Reddy.

 

Very soon I got a message from Reddy, and I was surprised to know  that he is a leading businessman in India. When everyone is dressed in an Indian team jersey at a match, it’s easy to overlook their lives beyond cricket.


Reddy hails from Hyderabad but revealed that he had lived in the US for several years before moving back to India. He is a real estate developer and owns multiple five-star hotels. At the time I was reading Reddy’s message, Chandrasenan, the ex- Vice President of the Trivandrum District Cricket Association when I was its Joint Secretary before becoming a journalist, messaged telling me that Reddy was his friend and the owner of the Marriott Hotel in Hyderabad.

 

Reddy also shared that he makes time to play cricket and has participated in the 50+ and 60+ age-group tournaments around the world. This summer, he will be playing in the 60+ World Cup in Toronto. He is a member of the Veterans Cricket Association of Telangana (VCAT) and is also an avid volleyball and badminton player.

 

S.P. Reddy with the veterans team 

With more than 25 years of experience in North America, Reddy returned to India in May 2007 and established the real estate firm Terminus Group. As the Chairman and Managing Director, he has led the company to prominence, delivering marquee and award-winning projects in Hyderabad since 2012.

 


As Reddy walked in with many following him, one of them was V Agam Rao. Rao too connected with me and revealed that he was the president of the Karminagar District Cricket Association in Telangana and an ardent cricket fan. He proudly shared that over the past 30 years, he had visited every Test-playing venue worldwide multiple times, except Pakistan. “Six of us travelled from Hyderabad. We watched all the matches in Dubai and are returning home as happy and proud fans,” he proclaimed. 


V. Agam Rao during the final. Photo courtesy V. Agam Rao

 Interestingly, another person I featured in my diary was one of the architects of the stadium itself. He was wearing an "Om" shirt and, ironically, was searching for the entrance to the very stadium he helped design!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Champions Trophy diary: A Modi look-alike fan and his followers

Image
By K.R. Nayar   Dubai.   Cricket fans lining up to enter the stadium love to have fun. They cheered for one fan who looked similar to Indian Prime Minister Modi. A few, acting like his followers, cheered him into the stadium while calling out, “Modi, Modi, welcome Modi.” He enjoyed the attention, and when this reporter asked for a photo, he waved just as Modi does during a rally. Incidentally, Modi was present during the 2023 ICC World Cup final in Ahmedabad and had consoled the Indian team when they lost the final. In 2024, he hosted the T20 World Cup-winning team for breakfast at his residence. A look-alike Modi fan and his followers. Photo by K.R. Nayar   Indian and Pakistani photographers’ hunt for autographs   It was interesting to watch an Indian and a Pakistani photographer together requesting autographs from Indian players. One wanted an autograph on a cricket bat, while the other wanted one on a cricket ball. Suman Chattopadhyay, from India, is a...
Read more

Two under-14 cricketers’ dream journey from the UAE to Palakkad and the Kerala state team

Image
By K.R. Nayar  We have often heard the saying, “The sky is the limit” for those who dream and work hard. Abhinav Madhu and Puthan Veettil Nirmay, who live in the UAE but hail from the Palakkad district in Kerala, have been selected for the Kerala State Under-14 team. Though they do their schooling in UAE and train at the Dunes Cricket Academy here, they registered with the Palakkad District Cricket Association nearly three years ago with a mission to play for Kerala. They made sure to travel to Kerala to play matches, and through their consistent performances, they earned a spot in the inter-zonal team. Now, they have clinched a place in the Kerala State Under-14 team. Puthan Veettil Nirmay and Abhinav Madhu These boys, through their journey to the Kerala team, have proved that nothing is impossible. By representing their parents’ hometown, they have made their families proud as well. Their parents’ love for the game and willingness to support their children’s dreams have ...
Read more

A bakery that inspired cricketers closes down after 84 years

Image
By K.R. Nayar For most of us, there would always be something that remains a nostalgic memory from our childhood days. In Trivandrum, where I spent all my early years of life, there was a small bakery called Santha Bakery, nestled in the heart of the city. It will always remain a cherished memory because every item sold here was delicious. For me, this bakery also played a motivational role in my journey as a cricket player and writer. The news of its closure after 84 years is now a painful reminder of its legacy.   Some of the former cricketers assemble bidding goodbye to their favourite bakery    Santha Bakery was more than just a place where I enjoyed cakes and puffs; it was a shop I revered. The three sons of P.M. Krishnan, the owner of the bakery, were brilliant cricketers—fearsome pacers, to be precise. P.M.K. Mohandas, P.M.K. Raghunath, and P.M.K. Premnath were renowned names those days. Mohandas was even mentioned by India’s legendary player E.A.S. Prasanna ...
Read more