Subhayan Chakraborty at the MCG
“Nerves are there, pressure is there, everything will be there,” Nitish Kumar Reddy had told RevSportz ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “You will have to handle the nerves and pressure. You know you need to go and perform there,” He had no guarantees that he would start in all the matches. Nor did he know that he would take on one of the best pace trios and one of the greatest-ever spinners with aplomb to give India assurance with the bat down the order while also outscoring all of India’s star batters. His shots, celebrations, and family were the centre of attraction at the MCG, which had 83,073 people watching on Day 3 – the largest third-day crowd for an MCG Test since January 1937.
As Reddy completed his 50, he brought out the famous Pushpa movie move to mark his maiden half-century for India in Tests. After completing his ton, he brought out the Sallar gesture. As Reddy completed his century, the cameras panned to his emotional father, Mutyala Reddy, who was there with Nitish’s mother and sister, sitting in a regular stand among the fans.
“It is an unbelievable feeling,” Mutyala Reddy said after the completion of his son’s century. “Can’t express it. He has worked very hard for this day. He has given us the best Christmas and New Year’s gift. I thank God.”
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🚨It’s a special day… beyond words to express 🗣️ Nitish Kumar Reddy’s family gets emotional, reacting to his historic century.@ThumsUpOfficial @CricSubhayan @BoriaMajumdar @rohitjuglan @TrishaGhosal @debasissen #nitishkumarreddy #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/l0zLoKH3ru
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) December 28, 2024
Reddy made a cracking start to his Test career, scoring 41 and an unbeaten 38 in Perth to help India seal a memorable win and take a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series. Following that, he has looked composed, creating a perfect blend between a solid defensive technique and adventurous stroke-making, like reverse-ramping Scott Boland against the pink ball.
However, he got out for three consecutive 42s – in the tour game in Canberra and the Adelaide Test – followed by a 16-run knock at the Gabba. Although there shouldn’t have been question marks about his place in the XI, there were many when India decided to play two spinners in the Boxing Day Test.
Would it be Shubman Gill or Reddy who would be dropped from the XI? That was the question in the build-up to the MCG Test. Gill was dropped, and the pressure was on Reddy and Washington Sundar to deliver. With the ball, neither bowled much to make an impact. But with the bat, the duo stitched together a 127-run partnership – the highest for the eighth wicket at the MCG by an Indian pair – to steady the ship for the visitors and help them avoid the follow-on. The two youngsters put on a show, whacking and showing resistance when required, against both old and new balls.
However, the show-stealer was Reddy. When Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah got out, Reddy was on 99. Mohammed Siraj had to face three deliveries from Pat Cummins. Siraj possibly fetched the loudest roar from the MCG when he defended the last ball of the over to bring Reddy back on strike before the all-rounder lifted Boland over the mid-on fielder to complete his century. In all, Reddy had a control percentage of 86 during his innings, where he has faced 176 deliveries so far. He is India’s highest-run scorer in the ongoing BGT, scoring 284 runs at a staggering average of 71 – also the highest of the series.
Before the start of the series, Reddy had told RevSportz, “I am ready to give my 100, 110 per cent for the Indian team. The BCCI has chosen me, and I have to respond accordingly. As an all-rounder, I have both skill sets, and I want to give my 110 per cent, whichever way I can help them. I can help in fielding as well. If I’m not playing, I can be the 12th man and carry drinks with all my heart. I can help by taking good catches. If I’m playing, I will be trying to give my maximum effort. It’s a crucial Test series for India. It will be very, very crucial for me as well.”
And boy, the 21-year-old has delivered 110 per cent for the team. When rain stopped play at the end of Day 3, the entire team, including his idol Virat Kohli, stood up near the boundary rope and welcomed India’s hero for the day with open arms. After a tense couple of days, Reddy has ensured the smiles are back in the dressing room. India finished at 358/9 at the end of Day 3. While the job is not yet done with two more days of play left, Reddy’s knock and his partnership with Sundar have given India the belief that it’s never over until it is.
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