Nitish Kumar Reddy Scores Maiden International Century at Melbourne Cricket Ground

Nitish Kumar Reddy achieved a remarkable milestone on Saturday, scoring his maiden international century on Day three of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Reddy reached the three-figure mark in 171 balls, guiding the ball straight down the ground to complete his first-ever Test century.

Coming in at a crucial moment, Reddy displayed immense grit and determination, sharing a pivotal partnership of over 100 runs with Washington Sundar. This collaboration helped India avoid the follow-on, as they were seven wickets down, and significantly reduced Australia’s lead.

Reddy, who has been India’s most consistent batter throughout the series, marked this century at an iconic venue, proving his invaluable contribution to the team. His form has been solid throughout the series, scoring crucial runs when the top order faltered. In the first Test in Perth, he made scores of 41 and 38*, followed by 42 in both innings of the Day-Night Test in Adelaide. Though he scored just 16 in the third Test at the Gabba, Reddy’s gritty performance in Melbourne, where he converted a half-century into his first international century, stood out. This knock also marked the highest score by a No. 8 batsman for India, surpassing Anil Kumble’s 87.

Reddy’s crucial partnership with Sundar—adding a record 127 runs for the eighth wicket—not only helped India avoid the follow-on but also validated their selection in the playing XI, earning praise from head coach Gautam Gambhir.