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Nitish Kumar Reddy’s family proudly watched from the MCG stands as he became the third youngest Indian Test centurion in Australia.
Nitish Kumar Reddy with his sister. (Instagram/BCCI)
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s family was proud and elated after the 21-year-old all-rounder scored his maiden Test century for India — an unbeaten 105 — at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the Boxing Day Test of the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy on Saturday.
Reddy strung a 127-run stand for the eighth wicket with Washington Sundar. They rescued India from 221/7 to 350/9 in the chase of Australia’s 474 at the end of the third day’s play. Reddy became the youngest Indian to score a century in a Boxing Day Test and the third youngest after Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant to do so in Australia.
“We are all very proud, we are all very happy for this and it happened before us, we just came for this match and it happened in this match,” Reddy’s sister told timesofindia.com. “We are all very very proud and happy for him.”
It didn’t come easily, though. In the 113th over, Reddy didn’t seem pleased when Jasprit Bumrah pushed for a double on the last ball, which meant the latter was on strike for the next over. He got out on the third ball, leaving India’s number 11, Mohammed Siraj, to survive three balls from Australian captain Pat Cummins.
Siraj somehow did that and Reddy reached his three figures on the third ball of the next over, lofting Scott Boland down the ground for a boundary.
“He had those tense moments but he was confident enough that he can score good (sic),” Reddy’s sister added.
She was also asked about head coach Gautam Gambhir’s remark about how playing for India is comparable to ‘taking a bullet for the country’.
“I can tell for sure, my brother, more than his individual game, he focuses on team game and he plays it. When someone suggests and help him out to do what he should do, he will definitely do it, I am sure of that,” she replied.
Reddy’s family have famously played a huge role in his journey. His father quit his job and used up most of his savings to run and support the youngster’s career. His mother meanwhile, took care of his sister’s studies. Reddy wears tattoos to signify all of their contributions.
His century included 10 fours and a six and helped India reduce the first-innings deficit to 116 runs.
- Location :
Melbourne, Australia
