Witness the thrilling moment as Nitish Kumar Reddy secures his maiden Test century, leading India to a remarkable performance at the MCG.
Introduction:
India found a hero in Nitish Kumar Reddy on the third day of the fourth Test at the MCG as the debutant showed grit and brilliance to score his maiden Test century. Batting with No. 11 Mohammed Siraj, Reddy’s resilient innings not only saved India from a disastrous collapse but also kept alive hopes of avoiding defeat. Even though Australia had a substantial lead, Reddy’s effort helped India to come closer to the deficit on a difficult day.
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Morning Session of Mixed Fortunes for India
India began the day on 221 for 7, still 310 runs behind, and the morning session offered early drama when Rishabh Pant fell to Scott Boland, in a moment of audacious shot-making gone wrong. He tried to scoop Boland over fine leg and ended up gifting a catch to deep third, which ripples with debate over his decision-making under pressure.

Ravindra Jadeja joined the crease, playing out till Nathan Lyon trapped him lbw with a smart skidding delivery. Jadeja’s wicket left India reeling behind still 253 runs, but Reddy’s coming into the crease became the turning point of the innings.
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A Gritty Partnership with Washington Sundar
Reddy and Washington Sundar forged a partnership that changed the dynamics of the game. The duo stitched together 127 runs in just under 48 overs, displaying a combination of patience and controlled aggression. Reddy quickly overtook Jadeja’s tally, bringing energy to the innings with crisp shot-making.

Reddy demonstrated his confidence by lofting Lyon for a six early on in his innings. This half-century, brought about with a powerful back-foot drive off Mitchell Starc, underlined his impeccable technique and temperament. At the other end, Sundar held things together, getting runs on calculated strokes. He managed to record his first boundary only after 103 deliveries, emphasizing patience and composure at the crease.
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Seconds of Drama and Resilience
Australia had their chances but failed to take them. Steven Smith dropped a diving catch from Sundar, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise for India. The second new ball, Mitchell Starc clutched his back, worried Australia a bit, even though he continued to deliver some really good balls of his.
The dismissal of Washington Sundar at the hands of Lyon was the turning point. Lyon managed to get that extra bounce to make him catch for Smith, thereby breaking the crucial eighth-wicket stand. By this time, Reddy was on 97, and the tension in the air was palpable.

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Crowning Moment
The final act of the day was nothing short of gripping. After a miscommunication led to Jasprit Bumrah’s dismissal, Reddy found himself stranded on 99 with only Mohammed Siraj for support. Facing Scott Boland, Siraj bravely survived three deliveries to keep Reddy’s hopes alive.

In the next over, Reddy defended the first two balls before launching a magnificent straight drive to bring up his century. The crowd erupted as Reddy raised his bat in celebration, with his father visibly emotional in the stands. It was a moment of triumph and pride, solidifying Reddy’s potential as a future stalwart for India.

Australia Still in Command
Despite Reddy’s heroics, Australia finished the day ahead by a significant margin. Their lead stood at 116 runs, much lesser than what was being talked about earlier in the day. Pat Cummins and his bowlers, particularly Nathan Lyon, worked hard but will now battle against time to win this match on a surface that remains straight and offers nothing to the bowlers.
Future Development
For India, it was a century by Reddy, which was testament to the fighting spirit of the team. Though the road to victory is steep, avoiding a heavy defeat now seems achievable. Reddy and Sundar partnership brought into focus the significance of contributions from the lower order in modern Test cricket.
Australia, on the other hand, will now have to regroup themselves and push for quick runs to set a daunting total. With the series very much at stake and also with time running out, the remaining two days promise an interesting contest.