Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar praised Nitish Kumar Reddy for his remarkable unbeaten century during the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne. Reddy’s composed knock of 105 not out played a crucial role in keeping India in contention against a dominant Australian side.
Tendulkar’s High Praise for Reddy
Tendulkar took to X (formerly Twitter) to commend Reddy’s temperament and composure, qualities the young cricketer has consistently displayed since his Test debut. “A knock to remember by Nitish. He has impressed me right from the 1st Test, and his composure and temperament have been on display right through. Today, he took it a notch higher to play a crucial innings in this series. Wonderfully and ably supported by @Sundarwashi5 as well. Well played!” wrote Tendulkar.
Vital Partnership with Washington Sundar
Reddy’s innings was instrumental in India’s fightback as he forged a crucial 127-run eighth-wicket partnership with Washington Sundar. Sundar contributed a resilient 50 off 162 balls, providing the perfect foil to Reddy’s innings. Their stand helped India avoid the follow-on and reduced the deficit against Australia’s formidable first-innings total of 474.
Joining an Elite Club
With his unbeaten 105, Reddy became the third-youngest Indian to score a maiden Test century in Australia. He now stands alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant in this elite group. Tendulkar achieved the milestone at 18 years and 256 days in 1992, while Pant scored his maiden century in Sydney at 21 years and 92 days in 2019. Reddy, at 21 years and 216 days, joined their ranks with this stellar performance.
Australia’s Bowling Effort
Australia’s bowling attack, led by Pat Cummins and Scott Boland, posed significant challenges for the Indian batsmen. Both Cummins and Boland took three wickets each, while Nathan Lyon chipped in with two. Despite their efforts, Reddy’s determination and Sundar’s steady support ensured India remained in the game.
Day 3 Summary and Looking Ahead
At stumps on Day 3, India stood at 358/9, trailing by 116 runs. Reddy, unbeaten on 105 off 176 balls, struck 10 fours and a six during his innings. Mohammed Siraj remained at the crease with him, offering hope for further runs on Day 4.
With two days remaining, India has positioned itself to fight for a favorable outcome, thanks to Reddy’s memorable knock and Sundar’s valuable contribution.
