Update New Delhi: India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy continues to impress in his debut Test series. Reddy reached his maiden century, playing a crucial role in helping India avoid the follow-on in the ongoing Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
The star all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, formed a crucial century-plus partnership with Washington Sundar as India crossed the 274-run mark. Australia had posted a formidable 474 in their first innings. The moment Reddy scored his century, he celebrated with a grand king gesture after previously marking his half-century with a viral PUSHPA-inspired celebration. His father was seen in tears, overcome with emotion, as his son reached this milestone. The video of this emotional moment has gone viral, capturing hearts across the cricketing world.
“It is his dream to have one,” his father, Mutyala Reddy, said. “But because we live in a rented house currently, we can’t put too many nails in the wall….”
His father had told his wife, “You take care of our daughter and her education. I’ll handle Nitish and his cricket.”
Making your parents cry is not a good thing..
Nitish kumar Reddy…hold my tea… pic.twitter.com/UnfvF6DP4q
— The Indian Kit (@indiankit_in) December 28, 2024
Reddy walked out on Day 3 after India were down to 191/6 with Rishabh Pant’s dismissal.
The right-handed batter wasted no time, showcasing his powerful strokes from the beginning while defending sharp deliveries effectively. Reddy kept the scoreboard moving as Sundar anchored one end. Despite India losing quick wickets in the final session, including Sundar, Reddy went on to complete his century.
Reddy’s determined footwork and strong application were key to his century, as he played crisp shots all around the ground, handling both pacers and spinners with ease. Impressively, Reddy has been consistently scoring runs on this tour, with notable contributions in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where his scores read 100*, 16, 42, 42, 41, and 38*.
The Australians approach Nitish Reddy to congratulate him, and the young batter walks off to a standing ovation from the MCG crowd. It was an incredible batting display, showcasing great temperament and game awareness. Reddy’s performance has been crucial in helping India out of a tough situation, marking him as a great find and a promising prospect for Indian cricket.