December 28th 2024.
Melbourne: Nitish Reddy, a name not widely known in the world of red-ball cricket, has made a remarkable debut during the Border-Gavaskar series. In the recent Boxing Day Test against Australia, Reddy delivered a resolute performance, scoring his first Test century and helping India stay in contention. His unbeaten 105 runs have narrowed the gap between India and Australia, with India now at 358 for nine, trailing by only 116 runs from Australia's first-innings total of 474. Despite rain disrupting play on the third day, Reddy's impressive knock has severely dented Australia's hopes of a decisive victory.
The MCG pitch, which was relatively flat and offered little to the bowlers, has made saving the Test match a manageable task for India. Reddy, who has been hailed as India's "find of the series," played a crucial role in the visitors' fightback. His combative spirit and the valuable partnership of 127 runs with Washington Sundar were the turning points for the team.
Reddy's innings has been praised by legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who believes it is one of the greatest Test knocks, given the situation India was in after Rishab Pant's dismissal. Pant's rash shot had left India in a precarious position at 191 for six. In a nail-biting moment, Reddy could have been left stranded at 99 when Jasprit Bumrah got dismissed, leaving him with only the last-man in Mohammed Siraj. Siraj, who faced three deliveries from the home skipper Pat Cummins, managed to survive, allowing Reddy to achieve his dream of scoring a Test century.
The moment was made even more special when Reddy hit a picture-perfect straight drive off Scott Boland, balancing his helmet with his bat and taking a knee in gratitude towards the Indian dug-out, which gave him a standing ovation. It was a surreal moment for the young Andhra batter, who has worked hard to reach this milestone. His father, Muthyala, who had once left his secure job to support his son's cricketing dreams, was overcome with emotion as he watched from the stands. As Indian fans took selfies with Reddy, it reminded him of the day in 2017 when he received the best U-16 cricketer award from the BCCI, and he clicked a selfie with his idol Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma as they left the hotel.
Reddy's batting style was solid, with a stable core and the ability to play the ball late. He only went for the drive when the ball was pitched up, avoiding unnecessary defensive shots. His 10 fours and a six were a testament to his attacking game, which put pressure on the Australian team.
The morning session was dominated by Rishabh Pant's inexplicable shot selection, which proved costly for India. However, the afternoon session belonged to Reddy, with his aggressive batting putting the pressure back on Australia. He hit several boundaries, including a six off Nathan Lyon, but his off-drive off Cummins was a particular highlight.
Throughout the series, Reddy has been India's most consistent batter, and his maiden Test century could not have come at a better time or in a more iconic venue. Washington, at the other end, also grew in confidence and played a crucial role in the team's recovery. With the drop-in surface at the MCG improving for batting as the match progressed, the second new ball did not pose much of a threat to the Indian duo.
In the morning session, Pant's shot selection was the talk of the town, with many expressing their disappointment in his impulsiveness. The MCG track on the third day was perfect for batting, with green grass giving way to a brownish tinge, and the old Kookaburra ball hardly posing a challenge. Had Pant stuck around, he could have scored big. However, his urge to play the falling lap pull over long-leg led to his dismissal. He had attempted a similar shot earlier, which resulted in him being hit in the naval area, but he did not learn from his mistake. Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar even called it the "worstest" shot he had ever seen.
Despite Pant's dismissal, Reddy showed great determination as he started his innings with a punchy off-drive off Lyon and later, a lofted six down the ground. His impressive recovery played a significant role in India's fightback against Australia.
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