His 127-run partnership with fellow allrounder Washington Sundar not only rescues India from follow-on but also shifted it to competitive mode
Still unbeaten, Nitin Reddy has now become the second highest run-getter in the series from both sides, though far behind Travis Head in terms of runs scored
The challenging tours Down Under have one big upside for India. Young blood is proving itself equal to the challenge, and stepping up to claim its rightful place in the Sun. So, if young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishab Pant was the standout performer during the previous Test series there for the Border-Gavaskar trophy back in 2020-21, rookie allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has claimed that space in the underway 2024-25 series.
With his massive rescue effort in partnership with fellow allrounder Washington Sundar on one of the biggest and highest stages of world cricket – the Melbourne Cricket Ground – before 83,073 spectators, the 21-year-old, making only his fourth Test appearance, has etched his name in the cricket history books in glowing letters.
Reddy’s 105* and Sundar’s patient 50, and their 127-run 8th-wicket partnership in a pressure cooker situation, not only saved the visitors from the ignominy of a follow-on but also placed them in a competitive position.
India, with 358/9 at stumps on the third day of the Boxing Day Test, though still in arrears of the massive Aussie first innings total by 116 runs, are in a much stronger position to make a match of it.
A natural stroke-maker, Reddy displayed remarkable composure, technique, and situational awareness by deftly picking the balls and gaps in the field to unleash his array of shots, unlike Rishab Pant earlier, who was roasted by commentators, especially the great Sunil Gavaskar, for throwing away his wicket attempting reckless shots, at a time when India needed him to occupy the crease and make a big score.
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On reaching his maiden international hundred in copybook style, with a picture-perfect lofted straight on-drive off Scott Boland, an elated Reddy expressed his gratitude to the Indian dugout and the crowd also in style. He balanced his helmet on his grounded bat and took a knee, apparently enacting the famous ‘Shourangya’ style from Prabhas-starrer ‘Salaar’. He received a standing ovation for his extraordinary feat.
Earlier, on reaching his half century too, he had apparently enacted the famous ‘Pushpa’ gesture from the Allu Arjun-starrer.
Mutyala, Reddy’s father, and his staunchest supporter through the challenges of a family with humble means in making his cricket career, was seen tensely watching and praying for his son nearing the 100-mark in the front row of one of the spectators’ stands. And, when the son hit the final runs, he was overwhelmed with emotions, unable to hold back the tears of joy, with equally overjoyed family members and other Indian fans flocking around him in congratulation.
Coming under the circumstances it did, Nitish Reddy’s innings could be considered more significant than the sensational batting on the opening day of the Test match by debutant teenage opener Sam Konstas (60 off 67 balls) to break Indian speed sensation Jasprit Bumrah’s shackles on the Aussie top order right through the previous three Tests, and Steve Smith’s innings of 140.
In the process, Reddy also rewrote several entries in the record records.
He became the third youngest player from India to score his maiden Test century in Australia, and the first Indian cricketer to score a century Down Under at No. 8. With Washington Sundar, he also posted the highest partnership for India for the 8th wicket in Australia.
There are many more, which we’ll share later in this write-up.
Congratulatory messages
Congratulatory posts from former cricketers, film stars, politicians and fans flooded social media soon after Nitish crossed the triple-digit mark.
“What an innings, dear Nitish. To become the third youngest Indian to score a [maiden] Test hundred in Aus and what an occasion to do it with the team in trouble. I am sure this will be first of many. Enjoyed your positivity and fearless stroke play. Keep it up. God bless you always,” former cricketer VVS. Laxman posted on X.
Sachin Tendulkar too chipped in, congratulating Nitish on his achievement. “A knock to remember by Nitish. He has impressed me right from the 1st Test and his composure and temperament have been on display right through. Today he took it a notch higher to play a crucial innings in this series. Wonderfully and ably supported by @Sundarwashi5 (Washington Sundar) as well. Well played!”
“Congratulations to Visakhapatnam youth K. Nitish Kumar Reddy for scoring a century in the fourth Test match of the Border Gavaskar Test Trophy 2024 against Australia in Melbourne. I sincerely wish him to achieve more such victories and to be part of the Indian cricket team and strengthen the country’s reputation,” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on X.
Fans and denizens flocked to Nitish’s residence to celebrate the century. While the family was in Australia for the match, scenes of jubilation were witnessed at the cricketer’s house in PM Palem, Visakhapatnam, with fans bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets.
Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) and Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association (VDCA) heaped praise on Nitish. ACA president Kesineni Sivanadh (Chinni), who also represents Vijayawada in the Lok Sanbha, announced a cash prize of ₹25 lakh for Nitish. He said that the Chief Minister will hand over the prize money to Nitish on his return from the Aussie tour.
Brickbats for Rishab Pant
Taking the field on Saturday in the company of Ravinder Jadeja, with India precariously placed at 164/5 chasing a daunting Aussie total, Rishab Pant quite expectedly came out blazing, hitting proper cricketing shots.
But soon overconfidence got the better of him, and after missing his trademark falling scoop shot off Scott Boland, and taking an apparently painful blow on the stomach, he attempted it again the next ball, intending to clear the deep fine leg fielder, only to sky a thickish edge straight to Nathon Lyon on the other side of the wickets at deep third man.
Rishab was roasted on social media for the irresponsible manner he literally gifted his wicket to the opposition at a critical moment in the match.
Indian great Sunil Gavaskar was particularly severe in his comments while commentating on ABC Sport. “STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! You’ve got two fielders there and you still got for that [shot]. You’ve missed the previous shot and look where you’ve been caught, you’ve been caught at deep third man. That is throwing away your wicket. Not in the situation that India was. You have to understand the situation as well. You cannot say that it is your natural game. I am sorry it is not your natural game.”
Nitish Reddy’s MCG century – in numbers
Nitish Reddy has been by far India’s most consistent batter in the series, and the maiden Test century couldn’t have come at a more opportune time and that too at an iconic venue.
He is now the second highest run-getter in the series so far from both sides. In six innings he has played, the right hander has amassed 284 runs so far, posting scores of 41, 38 n.o., 42, 42, 16 and now 105 n.o. Though he is way behind the top scorer Travis Head in terms of runs scored (The Aussie left hander has a tally of 409 runs, with two centuries, from as the same number of innings), Reddy with two unbeaten knocks has a better average of 71.00 against Head’s 68.16.
That represents the best average of any India batter making his maiden Test tour of Australia, and the best of any visiting batter (minimum two Tests) since Pakistan’s Azhar Ali returned 81.2 from his three matches in 2016-17.
His 105* at the MCG is the highest for a batter from No. 8 or lower in Tests at the venue. Australian Reggie Duff’s 104 at No. 10 in 1902 was the previous highest.
He is among five visiting batters to score Test hundreds batting at No. 8 or lower in Australia. It is also the first century by a No. 8 (or lower) batter for India in Australia, with Anil Kumble’s 87 in 2008 at Adelaide the previous highest.
Reddy is only the second Indian to reach a century while batting at No. 8 or lower against Australia, after Wriddhiman Saha’s 117 in Ranchi in 2017.
The 127-run partnership runs between Reddy and Washington Sundar for the eighth wicket is the joint-third highest for India against Australia, behind the 140 between MS Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the ninth wicket in the 2013 Chennai Test and 129 by Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh for the eighth wicket in the 2008 Sydney Test.
The 127-run stand is also the fourth highest for India in away Tests for the eighth (or lower) wicket in Tests.
At 21y 214d going into the Test, Reddy is the third-youngest Indian player to score a Test hundred in Australia, after Tendulkar (18y 253d) and Rishabh Pant (21y 91d). Reddy is the also the third-youngest visiting batter to score a Test hundred in Melbourne.
Nitish Reddy is the second Indian batter to score his maiden Test hundred at MCG after Vinoo Mankad in 1948. He is the first visiting batter to score his maiden Test hundred at the venue since JP Duminy in 2008.
The 8 sixes he has hit so far in the series are the joint highest by a visiting batter in a Test series in Australia. Michael Vaughan in the 2002-03 Ashes and Chris Gayle in 2009 also hit eight sixes each.
