Tall in stature, towering in ambition, 16-year-old Viha Reddy Jonnalagadda is fast becoming the face of Indian youth basketball. The Hyderabad teenager recently captained India to victory at the 2026 SABA U18 Championship and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player
In a city that produced Sania Mirza and PV Sindhu, 16-year-old Viha Reddy Jonnalagadda is the latest star in the sporting firmament. The first Telugu girl to captain an Indian basketball team internationally, this towering sporting star (literally, at six feet!) has been winning laurels, ensuring Telangana’s presence on the global basketball map grows stronger with every tournament she plays.
Just back from the 2026 SABA U18 Championship, where she led India to win the championship and was awarded the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the tournament, off the court, the teenager who attends Rockwell International School, Kokapet, could be mistaken for any other high school student: soft-spoken, grounded, and focused, belying the fierce competitor who dominates the basketball court.
“I was leading the team as a captain, so there was added responsibility on me,” she shares. “At times, you need to step up and motivate the team, but these are things I enjoy doing, and yes, winning the tournament has been a great shot in the arm.”
Winning accolades
The first time Viha tried out basketball was at the court at her community five years ago when she started playing for fun. Spotted by coach Mahesh Thota, who encouraged her to train seriously, resulted in the teenager training for five hours each day. The first break came in 2022, when she represented Telangana against Himachal Pradesh for the sub-junior national championships. Was she nervous? “I’m still nervous when I play,” she smiles and adds, “but of course, it was a great experience for me to play at that level.”
What followed was a string of successes in national basketball championships before being selected for the Indian team in 2025 at the SABA Women’s U16 Asia Cup held in Malé, Maldives. Looking back at her experiences, she shares, “Playing in the older categories is tougher as you need to amp up your game and skillset, and it is very competitive. It also taught me a lot about my own game, areas where I need to improve and step up my game.”
Her most memorable experience so far has been winning the FIBA Asia Cup last year. “No one thought we’d be able to pull it off, and it was a nail-biter where we actually won by one point in the final, so that was a moment I deeply cherish.”
Success also brings challenges along the way, and for Viha, it has been fitness. She has had a ligament tear in the past, a recurring injury that ensures that she focuses as firmly on fitness as she does on her game. She is also aware of understanding both her strengths and weaknesses. “I know that as a leader I need to motivate the team as well as take decisions very quickly; these are something I’m fixated on currently.”
A balanced life
Does she miss ordinary things a teenager does, like hanging out in the mall or catching movies? “Not at all,” she is quick to answer. “I get to do all that, and my school has been really supportive. The only challenge is to study when I’m tired out from practice, but I'm still finding a balance as my boards are next year.”
With immense support from her family (parents Venkat and Veneela, as well as brother Vidur, who was the U-16, Telangana basketball captain too in the past), sports lovers are rooting for the young champion to increase popularity for basketball in the country. Her immediate goal: win the FIBA U-18 Asia Cup in July, for which she will be back to the training camp in two weeks.
TAKE THREE
· Basketball players you admire: Caitlyn Clark and Paige Bueckers
· While not training or at school: You’ll find me sleeping!
· Currently watching: Dhurandhar
