NEW DELHI: Nitish Kumar Reddy earned widespread praise for his maiden Test century against Australia on the third day of the Boxing Day Test, but the milestone was made possible by one crucial contribution.
Reddy might have been left stranded on 99 if not for last-man Mohammed Siraj, who held his nerve to survive three deliveries from Australian skipper Pat Cummins.
Tensions ran high when Jasprit Bumrah fell in the 114th over, leaving Reddy stranded on 99. The expressions of both Reddy and his father, Muthyala, shifted with every ball as the pressure mounted.
However, Siraj held firm, surviving the crucial deliveries and allowing Reddy to relish the moment he had likely dreamed of a thousand times.
Reddy expressed his trust in Siraj by taking to social media, saying, “I also believe in Siraj bhai.” The young batter also showed his appreciation for his father, sharing a teary-eyed photo with the heartfelt caption, “This one’s for you.”
The moment Reddy reached his century became the defining moment of the series for India. He balanced his helmet with the bat, took a knee, and expressed heartfelt gratitude towards the Indian dugout, which rose in a standing ovation to celebrate his achievement.
In the stands near the boundary, Reddy’s father couldn’t hold back his emotions, breaking down in tears as he watched his son achieve this remarkable milestone.
Reddy’s unbeaten 105 took India to 358 for nine, still 116 runs short of Australia’s first innings score of 474 as rain brought an early end to the third day’s play.
Reddy’s combative spirit and the invaluable 127-run stand he shared with Washington Sundar (50 off 162 balls) proved to be the turning point for the hosts.
