Nitish Kumar Reddy’s journey on this tour has been nothing short of incredible. At just 21, the allrounder came into the series as an underdog, with only 21 first-class games to his name. Most of his standout performances had been in T20 cricket. But when the pressure of Test cricket was at its peak, Reddy rose to the occasion, smashing a brilliant century at the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Reddy silenced all of his doubters in style. “I know some people doubted me,” he said. “They thought a youngster like me, with IPL experience but not much else, couldn’t perform in such a big series. I just want to prove them wrong and show that I’m here to give my 100% for the Indian team.”
A Moment to Remember
On day three, with over 80,000 fans roaring in the stands, Reddy etched his name into history. Facing Australia’s Scott Boland, he struck a confident drive down the ground for four to bring up his maiden Test century. His teammates erupted in applause, but Reddy remained grounded, acknowledging his No. 11 partner, Mohammed Siraj, for his role in the milestone.
“The crowd went crazy when Siraj defended the last three balls of Cummins’ over,” Reddy recounted with a laugh. “I think that moment was even louder than my century celebration! But I have to thank him. Without his grit, I couldn’t have reached my hundred.”
Reddy also revealed how surreal it felt to share the field with his idol, Virat Kohli. “Watching Virat since childhood, making him my inspiration—it’s a dream to play alongside him. When he scored a century in Perth, I was at the non-striker’s end, feeling so proud. For him to come and say, ‘You played really well and got the team back in the game,’ that’s a moment I’ll cherish forever.”
Strategic Brilliance and Personal Growth
Nitish Kumar Reddy is one of the few Indian batters who have been able to play Scott Boland well. He has been constantly stepping out against him to disrupt his rhythm. “Boland’s consistency is his strength,” Reddy explained. “So, I tried moving forward to adjust to his line and length. It worked for me.”
However, Reddy remains critical of his bowling efforts. With just three wickets in four Tests at an average of 49, he acknowledges room for improvement. “My goal was to be a complete allrounder. Right now, I’m not happy with my bowling. I know I need to work harder to fill that role for the team.”
The Journey Behind the Glory
Reddy’s meteoric rise is no overnight success. After his first IPL season, he identified gaps in his game and used every available moment to refine his skills. “The work I’ve put in over the last two to three years is paying off now. It wasn’t about short-term fixes; it was about long-term improvement,” he shared.
Fitness, he believes, is the backbone of his success as an allrounder. “I’ve been pushing myself constantly, and it’s been worth it. This tour has been an incredible experience, but I’m determined to keep growing and contributing more.”
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