As the shadows lengthened on day three of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a bright new star announced his arrival on the international stage. 21-year-old debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, with poise and skill beyond his years, compiled a brilliant unbeaten century to resurrect India’s first innings and keep their hopes alive in the match.
A Prodigy’s Promise
Reddy came into this high-pressure series with a burgeoning reputation as the next great batting hope for India. Gargantuan scores in domestic age-group tournaments and a breakout IPL season with the bat had many touting him as a future superstar. And while his initial outings showed flashes of that potential, it wasn’t until his MCG masterclass that the full scope of his abilities was put on display.
Fighting Spirit
Walking to the crease with India staring at a monumental deficit of 283 runs and only four wickets in hand, Reddy showcased remarkable composure. Mixing doughty defense with busy accumulation and selective aggression, he soon made it clear that he wouldn’t be overawed by the occasion or the scoreboard pressure. Even against a hostile barrage from Pat Cummins and probing spells from veteran Nathan Lyon, Reddy held firm, riding his luck at times but never letting the bowlers dictate terms.
The physical courage was immense. It never got easy out there, with Cummins in particular dishing out some seriously nasty stuff. But Reddy just kept getting in line, swaying away, getting hit, whatever it took. An amazing display of mental strength for one so young.
Mark Waugh, on commentary
Nerveless Nineties
As Reddy entered the nervous nineties and lost his stolid partner Washington Sundar, the tension in the ground became palpable. A panicked mix-up with Jasprit Bumrah nearly proved disastrous. But showing maturity beyond his years, Reddy settled himself, farmed the strike expertly, and brought up his hundred with a cracking straight drive to a massive roar from the crowd. The MCG faithful, over 80,000 strong, stood as one to applaud a stunning maiden century.
For those lucky enough to witness it in person, it felt like a moment in time – the arrival of India’s next batting superstar on the toughest stage imaginable. Reddy’s unbeaten 105 has single-handedly kept India in this contest. More than that, it points to an incredibly bright future for a outrageously talented young man who seems destined to etch his name into cricket’s history books in the years to come.
