NEW DELHI: India’s young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy shone brightly at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with his maiden Test century, a sublime 114 that anchored India’s innings and gave them a fighting chance in the gripping fourth Test against Australia. Reddy’s knock, coupled with Jasprit Bumrah‘s fiery 4-56, left the match delicately poised as Australia ended Day 4 at 228/9, leading by 333 runs.
Reddy, just 21 and playing his fourth Test, had his father, Mutyala Reddy, and a host of family and friends watching on as he reached the milestone. “That was a special century for me and for my father,” Reddy said with a mix of pride and emotion. “When I was nothing, the first person who believed in me was my father. He resigned from his job for me. He made a lot of sacrifices. I’m so grateful to have a father like him.”
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Reddy expressed gratitude to teammate Mohammed Siraj, whose stoic defense allowed Reddy to reach his hundred. “The crowd went crazy after Mohammed Siraj’s last-ball defense. Even my century was not that loud, I guess,” he joked. “But I really love the way Siraj came and played three balls. I should thank him for my hundred.”
Despite his individual brilliance, Reddy remained grounded and focused on the team’s prospects. “We haven’t discussed the batting order for the second innings yet,” he said. “Everyone is capable of playing on this pitch. We will come back strong and try to rectify the mistakes made in the first innings.”
Reflecting on his development as a batter, Reddy revealed the hard work behind his success. “I have been working on my batting for the last 2-3 years. Fitness is important for me as an all-rounder, and I kept pushing. After my first IPL season, I realized what improvement I needed in my batting. During the off-season, I worked really hard. That’s what’s working out now.”
India’s hopes of a comeback had also rested on Bumrah, who dismantled Australia’s middle order with a scintillating spell. The hosts slumped from 80-2 to 91-6 after lunch, only to be rescued by a 57-run stand between Marnus Labuschagne (70) and Pat Cummins (41). Nathan Lyon (41*) and Scott Boland (10*) then frustrated India with an unbroken 55-run partnership for the final wicket.
Reddy acknowledged the challenges posed by the pitch but maintained optimism. “In the second innings, it’s a fresh innings, and I can’t start with a hundred. I have to start afresh and use the same approach I had in the first innings. We will play according to what the team plans for the second innings.”
With the series level at 1-1, the stakes are high for both sides. Reddy believes that India can stage a historic chase if they find rhythm with the bat. “It’s important to have one or two good partnerships to give us a chance of victory,” he said. “We don’t need to put more pressure on ourselves by saying the pitch is doing this or that.”
The highest successful chase at the MCG since 2000 stands at 231/2 by Australia against England in 2013-14. To surpass that and win, India will need to overcome history and a spirited Australian side.
