 "Nitish Kumar Reddy expresses satisfaction at silencing critics with century at MCG, pays emotional tribute to his father")
After his heroics in the limited-overs formats, especially for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, Nitish Kumar Reddy finally announced himself in the Test format with a superb century on Day 3 of the fourth Test between India and Australia in Melbourne. Reddy brought up the three-figure mark with a boundary at the stroke of stumps, the shot followed by a Baahubali celebration by the all-rounder as well as emotional scenes in the stands where the camera was focused on his overjoyed father and the rest of his family,
Also Read | Reddy shows there’s more than one string to his bow with a proper Test-match knock at MCG
Not only did 21-year-old Reddy showcase his ability to grind it out in the tough five-day format against a team like Australia in their own backyard, his gritty innings also helped India avoid having to follow-on . Thanks to his knock and his partnership with fellow all-rounder Washington Sundar, India went past 350 from 221/7 and eventually reduced the deficit to a shade above 100.
Reddy, who was dismissed shortly after resuming his innings on Day 4, expressed satisfaction in shutting his critics up by letting his bat do the talking. Though he had proven himself in the IPL as well as for India in the T20I series against Bangladesh, Reddy’s inclusion for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy raised a few eyebrows as his First-Class numbers weren’t extraordinary, and neither were his recent performances in the format, including in the unofficial Test series between India A and Australia A.
‘I just want to make them feel wrong’: Reddy on critics
Among the naysayers was a former chairman of selectors. However, with 293 runs – the most by an Indian so far in the series and the second highest overall – at an average of 58.60, Reddy certainly has silenced his critics for now.
“Some people doubted me, like a youngster who played IPL, can’t perform in such a big series. I know a lot of people did talk like that,” Reddy told reporters after stumps on Day 4 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“I just want to make them feel wrong about what they have said about me and that’s what I am doing, I want people to know that I am here to give my 100 percent for Indian team,” the 21-year-old added.
Reddy, who had dished out a match-winning all-round performance (74 and 2/23) against Bangladesh in just his second T20I appearance, added that his current success isn’t the result of one or two months of hard work, but that of two to three years.
“I guess for you guys, it is like one or two months. For me, it’s like, I can see my my past two to three years. How hard I’ve been working on my batting and bowling.
“After the first IPL season, I realised what I have to improve my batting and I came up with a plan. When I got the off-season, I worked a lot on my batting and that’s what is giving results now. It’s not about the one month and two months, I have done the work from last two-three years to be here,” Reddy revealed.
‘First person who believed in me was my father’: Reddy
Reddy also spoke about the sacrifices made by his father Mutyalu, who had quit his job after serving the central government for 25 years, adding that it was the belief his father showed in him that further inspired him to become an international cricketer.
“To be honest, my father had 25 years of service in central government and when I was a nobody, and hadn’t played a state-level game, the first person who believed in me was my father,” he was a touch emotional.
“He believed in me and he resigned from his job for me. He would take me to the ground, gym, always he wanted to be with me. He made a lot of sacrifices. If I have to tell about him, time won’t be sufficient but I am so grateful to have a father like him.”
“I helped my team in a difficult situation to where we can fight back strongly. So that was a special century for me and for my father as well,” he added.
Absolute cinema! 🎥😮💨
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 28, 2024
As #NitishKumarReddy brought up his maiden Test century in the #BoxingDayTest, relive the nail-biting drama that unfolded leading up to his milestone moment!#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 4th Test, Day 4, SUN, 29th DEC, 4:30 AM pic.twitter.com/N0YMj54MYU
Reddy added that it was surreal to see his childhood idol Virat Kohli give him a standing ovation and offer words of appreciation after he brought up the coveted milestone on Saturday.
“I have been watching Virat from my childhood. He is my idol and now finally I have played with him. When he scored a hundred in Perth, I was at the non-striker’s end. I felt so happy.
“Now, I scored a century, he appreciated me. He came to me and said that ‘you really played well, you got the team back in the game’. I always dreamt about that moment and finally when he talked with me, that’s the best moment for me,” he said as his face beamed.
As for India’s chances of going 2-1 up in the series ahead of the final day of the Melbourne Test, Reddy said that the primary focus would be on grabbing the final wicket. Australia recovered from a spirited Indian fightback led by Jasprit Bumrah (4/56) to end the day on 228/9, stretching their lead to 333.
“First we have to take their last wicket. We will come back strongly and rectify our mistakes from the first innings,” said Reddy before signing off.
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