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When Ravi Shastri speaks, cricket fans listen. And when the former Indian coach and commentator shared his thoughts on Nitish Kumar Reddy’s remarkable century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), it wasn’t just about the statistics, but the heart and soul that the 21-year-old showed under pressure.
An excited Shastri tweeted: “An innings to remember for all. For a 21-year-old to exhibit that kind of character under pressure brought tears to his eyes. Pure gold. Well played, young man. God bless you. #NKR #TeamIndia #AusvsIND.”
Nitish’s father gets emotional
Nitish’s father Mutyala Reddy was also present in the stands. You could see his nerves as Nitish came close to scoring his first hundred. When Nitish finally made it, tears rolled down Mutyala’s face.
Speaking to Adam Gilchrist after the match, Mutyala could not contain his pride. “It’s a special day for us and we will never forget it,” he said. “He’s been playing well since his age-group days, and to see him do it on the international stage… it’s an incredible feeling.”
He added: “When I was on 99 and there was only one wicket left, I was very tense. Fortunately, Siraj managed to survive.”
An unprecedented century
Nitish Kumar Reddy has now become the first Indian player to score a century in Australia while batting at number 8. He is also the third youngest Indian to score a century in India, only behind Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant.
Nitish Kumar Reddy also forged a crucial partnership with Washington Sundar (50) for the eighth wicket. Together, the duo scored 127 runs that saved India from a follow-on. This is now the second-highest eighth-wicket partnership for India in Australia. Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh’s stand of 129 runs is the highest.
Reddy’s knock also puts him alongside some of Indian cricket’s greatest moments at the MCG. He became the fifth Indian to score a century in the Boxing Day Test here. From Virender Sehwag’s 195 in 2003 to Rahane’s match-winning century in 2020, the MCG has seen some unforgettable innings, and now, Reddy’s century has been added to that list.
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