Nitish Kumar Reddy emerged as the hero for India on day three of the Boxing Day Test, hitting his stunning maiden Test century to lead the hosts’ charge against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Playing only his fourth Test match, Reddy demonstrated exceptional skill and composure, becoming the star of the day as he propelled India through what had been a challenging situation.
The match, attended by 83,073 enthusiastic fans, saw Reddy score 105 not out after India found themselves struggling at 221/7. His partnership with fellow all-rounder Washington Sundar proved pivotal; the duo stitched together 127 runs for the eighth wicket, changing the course of the innings. With this impressive display, India ended day three at 358/9, trailing by 116 runs.
Reddy's performance was marked by solid footwork and impressive shot selection, both on the front and back foot. His emotional celebration upon reaching his century—falling to his knees and raising his arms toward the heavens—was particularly notable, reflecting the deep significance this milestone held for him and his family. The atmosphere turned poignant as his father, Mutyala, could be seen emotionally thanking the heavens for his son's achievement.
"This is the first Test hundred and he is going to score many more in the near future. I am expecting to see him among the runs in the future. He is a star of Indian cricket," stated revered cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, who spoke highly of Reddy's potential. He emphasized the importance of humility and remembrance of the sacrifices made by Reddy’s family along his cricketing path.
Earlier on the day Reddy made his mark, India had lost both Rishabh Pant (28) and Ravindra Jadeja (17) fairly early on, putting additional pressure on the batting lineup. When Reddy arrived at the crease, calmness and determination were evident as he immediately found rhythm, combating the Australian bowlers who rallied tirelessly. He decorated his innings with ten boundaries and even hit one six, showcasing his ability to accelerate the scoring when required.
Upon completing fifty runs, Reddy recreated scenes reminiscent of film icon Allu Arjun from the popular Telugu film 'Pushpa', eliciting cheers from the spectators. The pitch had begun to flatten out, allowing the Indian batsmen to express themselves fully. Reddy’s aggressive drives and deft placements punctuated the innings, keeping the scoreboard ticking and frustrating the Australian bowlers.
Following his monumental century, Reddy became the first Indian batter to score a Test century batting at number eight or lower in Australia—a record few can boast. Along with Sundar, whose resilient fifty bolstered the innings, Reddy brought palpable relief to Indian fans as they could avoid the looming threat of follow-on.
Reddy’s achievement was not merely statistical; it reverberated across the cricketing community. Former India coach and notable cricketer Ravi Shastri advocated for Reddy’s promotion up the batting order, indicating he should bat at positions five or six going forward. "Reddy is fully capable of batting in the top 6. Then it changes the whole balance of the game," Shastri remarked during the tea break, hinting at the dynamic strength Reddy could bring to the team lineup.
During the course of this transformative day, Reddy significantly altered the momentum of the match. With tailender Mohammed Siraj now at the crease, the onus was on Reddy to continue building upon India's innings, as they still faced the challenge of closing the gap on Australia’s first innings total of 474.
The emotional poise and sheer skill demonstrated by Reddy invite optimism for not just this match but for his career, which, as Gavaskar notes, could blossom if he remains true to himself and the game. With sentiments of pride ringing through Indian cricket circles, Reddy is poised to become one of the leading lights for the team going forward.
India will resume play on the fourth day with hopes riding on Reddy and his partner's ability to reduce the deficit and give the bowlers a fighting chance to reclaim control of the match. This remarkable debut century marks just the beginning of what promises to be a bright future for Nitish Kumar Reddy.
