On this day, December 28,2024: In one of cricket’s grand spectacles, Nitish Kumar Reddy soared high. He scored his maiden Test century in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Playing in his fourth Test and with his father among the India fans in the stands, the 21-year-old made an 119 to drag his side from 191-6 to 369. Nitish put on 127 in 47 overs for the eighth wicket with Washington Sundar to frustrate Australia after the early dismissals of Rishabh Pant for 28 and Ravindra Jadeja for 17. While Washington reached his 50 and then fell to Nathan Lyon and by then the eighth-wicket partnership had clocked 127 runs.
In his 90s, Nitish watched Jasprit Bumrah faintly nick one off Pat Cummins. All the audience held its breath as there was only one wicket left and Nitish was on 99 at the other end. Mohammed Siraj survived, and there was relief and joy all around when Nitish hit a four off Boland, went down on one knee for his celebration. He then looked towards his father in the stands, placed his helmet on the bat and gazed at the sky.
With this knock, Nitish Reddy also became the third youngest Indian to score maiden Test century in Australia. Nitish Reddy made his debut in the First Test at Perth, Reddy had scores of 41, 38*, 42, 42 and 16 heading into the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
At a rain-induced close on the third day, the visitors scored 369 in the first innings while trailing Australia’s 474. However it was not enough as Australia beat India by 184 runs in a thrilling ending to the fourth Test in Melbourne to take a 2-1 lead going into the final match of the series. India were set a target of 340 in 92 overs and batted cautiously throughout the innings with little ambition to chase and it looked like a draw before India collapsed. It was a sensational bowling performance in the evening session saw Australia take the final seven wickets for just 34 runs as India were bowled out for 155 in the final hour.
