Talk about coming of age! India feared for the worst; former cricketers screamed “stupid” when Rishabh Pant handed a simple catch after playing a suicidal shot in the opening session of Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test. But one man, who showed his talent all through the BGT series, had other plans. Nitish Kumar Reddy came in at 191/6 and walked back at the stumps when India’s score read 358/9. In between, he did something magical.
Nitish Kumar Reddy gets prize money of ₹25 lac
As a result of his terrific maiden international hundred, Nitish Reddy’s state association, Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), has granted their star a superb reward of Rs 25 lakh. “It is a fortunate day and a happiest moment for the Andhra Cricket Association. We are very happy that a boy from Andhra has been picked for the Test format and international T20 format. As an honour, on behalf of the Andhra Cricket Association, ₹25 lakh prize money is being given to Nitish Kumar Reddy,” (ACA) President Kesineni Sivanath said.
Nitish and Sundar’s epic partnership
After lunch, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar took control, steadying the ship for India. Reddy displayed his temperament, reaching his half-century with a beautiful four off Mitchell Starc. Sundar provided solid support, notching up his fifty with a well-timed drive. Their partnership was a mix of careful defence and strategic scoring, allowing India to push past the 300-run mark, raising hopes of avoiding a follow-on. Reddy and Sundar had a 127-run partnership, taking the team out of a shambling score.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s heroics & drama in final overs
Nitish faced mounting pressure, particularly after Sundar’s dismissal to Lyon for 50. Despite losing partners, Nitish remained unfazed. He was stranded on 97 as the last few wickets fell, including that of Jasprit Bumrah to Pat Cummins at slip. However, with Scott Boland’s aggressive bowling, Nitish showed his class by reaching his maiden Test century with a stunning drive over mid-on, bringing the Melbourne crowd to their feet. It was a proud moment, witnessed by his father in the stands.
