Nitish Kumar Reddy, batting at No. 8, slammed his maiden international century when India needed it the most to give India a fighting chance in the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia on Saturday. He was ably assisted by No. 9 batter Washington Sundar, who scored a half-century too. In the final session on the day, Nitish Kumar Reddy, while standing at 99, slammed the ball towards the mid-on fielder for a four and got his maiden international century in style.
The atmosphere at the MCG turned emotional, as Nitish’s father shed tears of joy, while joining hands and thanking the Almighty. Coming to the pavilion after the knock, Nitish Kumar Reddy was received with appreciation by Australian players and standing ovation from the Indian camp.
Nitish Kumar Reddy stands unbeaten at 105 runs from 176 balls at a strike rate of 59.66. Nitish Kumar Reddy slammed 10 fours and 1 six during his time on the crease on Day Three of the Melbourne Test. Washington Sundar scored 50 off 162 balls. This is the first time in the 147-year history of Test cricket, according to official broadcasters, that both No. 8 and No. 9 batters faces over 150 balls each in an innings.
Day 3 : Morning Session : Nitish Kumar Reddy steady after India lose Pant, Jadeja early in the morning session.
India continued to be wobbly with the bat as they lost their two overnight batters Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja on the third morning, while still trailing by a big margin at the MCG. Nitish Kumar Reddy once again showed appreciable batting application as he took the team to 244/7 at Lunch, in the company of Washington Sundar.
In an eventful first half hour, Pant had a streaky boundary and one where he charged down and lofted Pat Cummins over mid-on. Cummins reviewed a hopeful caught behind appeal against the wicketkeeper-batter, and on two separate but identical occasions, the two batters found themselves pushing for a quick single and had to return after being sent back by the other.
But all the flirting with danger took Pant only so far as his attempts to shuffle across and lap Scott Boland over fine leg ended his stay. After trying it and missing on the previous delivery, he attempted it again and ended up top-edging the ball straight to Nathan Lyon at third man. Pant was on the floor, like he usually is when he makes these audacious attempts, but also had to trudge back after not being able to clear the fielder.
The second evening had finished with Australia claiming 3 for 6 around the run out of Yashasvi Jaiswal, the ramifications of which were still being hotly debated when play resumed, with India 310 behind. Pant led the scoring early on the third morning, but fell in a manner that created many headlines when he attempted to scoop Boland over fine leg and got a leading edge to deep third. In a Test that had been dominated by Sam Konstas’ scoops, this was an example of when things go badly.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who kept his spot ahead of Shubman Gill, exuded confidence on arrival as he played a couple of assured straight drives early on – against Lyon and Mitchell Starc. The off-spinner however, set Jadeja up with his lengths that constantly pushed the left-hander on the back-foot. Lyon then used a trick straight out of Jadeja’s copybook, as he pushed one through quicker at 88kmph and trapped the left-hander leg-before for a restrained 17.
Ravindra Jadeja played a largely defensive innings before being defeated by a superb piece of bowling from Lyon who skidded one through to trap him lbw. It was just Lyon’s fourth wicket of the series but, having later made one bounce to remove Washington, he could yet have a key role to play. When Jadeja fell, India were still 253 runs adrift with the follow-on the first target as Washington joined Reddy, although there’s almost no chance Cummins would have enforced it.
Nitish Kumar Reddy continued to be fluent and fearless, charging down to hit Lyon for a six. When the spinner went short, he rocked back and employed the cut shot. Nitish Kumar Reddy was also measured against Cummins, not giving in to the temptation of ramping short deliveries to the third man fielder – like he did in Adelaide. He moved into the 40s by stepping out against Travis Head towards the end of the session, which finished with India still trailing 230 runs.
Day 3 : Post Lunch Session : Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar cut India’s deficit to avoid follow on
Nitish Kumar Reddy repaid the trust that the Indian management put in him in a tough selection call for the MCG Test with a show of calm and grit on the third afternoon. The allrounder walked in at 191/6 and added a record eighth-wicket stand at the MCG worth 105* runs with Washington Sundar to drag India out of their batting quagmire. When an early Tea break arrived due to bad light, India had reduced their deficit down to 148.
Nitish Kumar Reddy had been positive when he arrived, quickly overtaking Jadeja’s score despite his partner having a 35-ball head start. Shortly after Lyon had removed Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy skipped down to the offspinner and sent him straight for six. His half century came up with a rasping back-foot drive against Mitchell Starc and, as it had previously in the series, his technique shone of someone who will be higher up the order as his career develops.
Through their alliance that has now stretched to 32.1 overs, both Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington showed that the conditions were bigger allies of the batters. With his 115-ball stay for 40 runs, Washington played perfect foil to Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored his maiden Test fifty and is now just 15 away from his first Test century.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s 85 came at a brisk rate of 71.43 but there was barely any risks that the young batter indulged in. He even resisted falling into the familiar trap of playing the ramp shot against short balls from Pat Cummins, having been dismissed like that in Adelaide.
He even copped a short ball to his glove but refrained from taking it on. He exuded confidence right from the start, playing his drives against the quicks and giving Nathan Lyon the charge. There was just one audacious moment in an otherwise controlled effort when he tried to play a reverse sweep of pacer Scott Boland.
Day 3 : Afternoon Session : Nitish Kumar Reddy’s resolute maiden century, Washington Sundar’s 50 highlights the stunning fightback from Team India
Nitish Kumar Reddy scored his maiden Test hundred while Washington Sundar raised his fourth fifty in the format to help India improve their footing at the MCG on Day 3. The pair picked up the pieces in the afternoon session from 221 for 7 when Australia could smell blood and took it as far as 348 in the final period when Lyon dismissed Washington. India lost Jasprit Bumrah quickly and ran the risk of leaving Nitish Kumar Reddy stranded in the 90s, but Mohammed Siraj held on from the other end to allow the 21-year-old to get to his milestone.
The only moments of nerves and hesitation for Nitish Kumar Reddy came while he was in the late 90s during an otherwise fluent knock that kept the hosts at bay and diluted their advantage in the game.
Nitish Kumar Reddy and fellow all-rounder Washington Sundar then set about vindicating the team management’s tough and controversial selection calls for the fixture with their defiant partnership.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who already had three scores in the 40s in this series, exhibited no sign of being tentative even as India were on shaky grounds at that point. Washington brought determination to defy Pat Cummins & Co. too as he batted long – for the second time in Australia since scoring 62 in the iconic Gabba victory of 2021. He enjoyed a slice of luck as Steve Smith put down a tough catching chance in the slip cordon.
Washington Sundar , who played a vital role with the bat in the famous 2021 victory at the Gabba, was watchful throughout, collecting his first and only boundary from his 103rd ball when he sent Starc through point with an elegant drive. The selection of the extra allrounders over Shubman Gill had been the topic of much debate but they could have done little more with the bat justify it.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s essay meanwhile was brisk but not risky as the third day turned out to be great for batting. Nitish Kumar Reddy resisted falling into the familiar trap of playing the ramp shot against short balls from Pat Cummins, having been dismissed like that in Adelaide. He even copped a short ball to his glove but refrained from taking it on.
Washington did have one moment of fortune, in rather unusual circumstances, when he went to turn Starc through the leg side in the first over of the second new ball with it flying off the back of his bat towards second slip where Steven Smith, taken by surprise that it came in his direction, couldn’t holding on diving to his right.
There was later a moment of concern for Australia when Starc grabbed his back midway through an over. However, he appeared to come through unscathed and continued to bowl at good pace although ended the day wicketless from 25 overs as the workload of the quicks mounted ahead of the final Test in Sydney.
Mitchell Marsh was used for a spell either side of an extended tea break, but his 120kph medium pace was unconvincing although he did play a role in drying up the scoring early in the final session.
The eighth-wicket pair showed few signs of being separated until Lyon got one to bounce against Washington which took the shoulder of the bat to Smith at slip. At that point, Nitish Kumar Reddy was on 97 and the day’s most compelling few minutes was about to unfold.
He exuded confidence right from the start, playing his drives against the quicks and giving Lyon the charge. There was just one audacious moment in an otherwise controlled effort when he tried to play a reverse sweep off pacer Scott Boland. He carried on in the same vein in the final session, while his father watched on from the stands nervously chanting prayers for the century.
However, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s crowning moment came amid huge tension after Washington was dismissed. In what appeared to be a lack of communication, he and Jasprit Bumrah came back for a second run off the final ball of an over which exposed the No. 10 to Pat Cummins and he edged to slip as Nitish Kumar Reddy watched from the non-striker’s end on 99. But Siraj was able to negotiate three deliveries from Cummins to huge cheers from the Indian supporters.
Now, facing Scott Boland, Nitish Kumar Reddy defended two deliveries before unleashing a lofted straight drive down the ground to bring up a magnificent century, just the second of his first-class career. His father was in the crowd, among those on the edge of the seat as the landmark approached, and couldn’t contain his emotion.
With his ton, Nitish Kumar Reddy also achieved an elusive feat as he became the third youngest Indian batter to get a maiden Test century in Australia after Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant.
Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar tops the chart after slamming his maiden Test century at the age of 18 years and 256 days in 1992. India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant holds the second place on the list following his maiden Test century at the age of 21 years and 92 days in Sydney in 2019. Meanwhile, Nitish achieved the milestone at the age of 21 years and 216 days.
It took a bit of an effort to get there as Lyon got some extra bounce to nick off Washington and Cummins had Bumrah caught at first slip – a first such dismissal in the game. Nitish Kumar Reddy spent 18 deliveries in the 90s before lofting Boland for a four down the ground to get to his hundred. Soon after he did that, the players had to leave the field for bad light. While they waited for it to improve, rain came along and ensured there was no further play. India finished the day on 358 for 9, trailing Australia by 116.
Road Ahead on Day 4 for Australia and India
A defiant maiden Test century by Nitish Kumar Reddy, brought up with No. 11 Mohammed Siraj for company, led an outstanding rearguard from India at the MCG to give them hope of at least avoiding defeat in the fourth Test although Australia were still set to take a significant first innings lead.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had shown his batting prowess at various stages through his first Test series, arrived at the crease early on the third morning after a Rishabh Pant dismissal that prompted some strong reactions and was still there when bad light and rain brought an early close. He forged a stand of 127 in just under 48 overs with Washington Sundar to halt Australia in their tracks when they appeared likely to take a stranglehold on the game.
It has been a brilliant fightback from India after being on the mat at 191/6. Pant gifted his wicket away early in the day and Jadeja couldn’t do anything substantial either. Nitish Kumar Reddy walked into bat at a tricky situation. He showed great composure and played the ball on its merit. Washington Sundar provided him great support from the other end and the duo kept the fight on for India. The Aussie bowlers bowled in consistent lines and lengths but the duo was equally adept at dealing with them.
They showed respect when it was required. Nitish Reddy played some classy strokes when the opportunity presented itself and showcased his caliber. He brought up his maiden Test fifty and kept going strong. Australia tried different tactics as they kept changing the field, changed angles with the ball and tried the short ball ploy but both of them had answers to that.
Lyon finally broke through once Sundar struck a fifty and the 127-run stand came to an end. Bumrah fell for a duck as Nitish Reddy was watching from the other end with the last wicket remaining. Siraj managed to survive and then Reddy reached his maiden Test ton with a boundary.
It has been pretty gloomy since a while and the umpires finally take the players off due to bad light. The umpires had a look at the light meter and the light wasn’t good enough. The Australians come up to Nitish Kumar Reddy and congratulate him. The young man walks off to a standing ovation from the MCG crowd. Incredible batting display from the young man. He has shown great temperament and game sense to bail India out of shallow waters. A great find for India and this young man is certainly a great prospect…
Lyon finally broke through once Sundar struck a fifty and the 127-run stand came to an end. Bumrah fell for a duck as Nitish Reddy was watching from the other end with the last wicket remaining. Siraj managed to survive and then Reddy reached his maiden Test ton with a boundary.
Rain interrupted proceedings soon after that for the second time in the day and this time, it didn’t relent. India have brought down the deficit close to 100 which is a moral victory in itself. The pitch has actually got better as the game has progressed. The last wicket pair of India will try to add as many runs as possible tomorrow morning. The weather forecast looks better for tomorrow. All three results are still possible. Everything to play for with the series on the line.