India’s young star Nitish Kumar Reddy has created history during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Batting at number 8, he achieved three significant milestones during a single match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Maiden Test Hundred
Reddy became the first Indian batter to score a century in Australia from the no.8 position. The all-rounder from Andhra Pradesh completed his century in the 115th over by scoring a boundary off Scott Boland. Nitish Reddy became only the second Indian to score a Test century against Australia at no.8, following Wriddhiman Saha’s 117 in 2017.
Not just the Indian dressing room, but the entire commentary panel also lit up when Nitish brought up his hundred. Adam Gilchrist, Mark Howard, Harsha Bhogle all heaped praises on the Indian youngster as he brought up his century in style.
Following his hundred, Reddy kneeled down and looked towards the skies to seek the blessings of the almighty. The celebration was quite similar to a gesture in the popular Indian film Bahubali. Before that, Nitish Kumar Reddy had also brought out the iconic Pushpa celebration when he had reached his fifty.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Breaks Several Records
Reddy made a remarkable achievement by breaking Anil Kumble’s record for the highest score of 87 by an Indian at the number 8 position in a Test match against Australia. Kumble set this record at Adelaide Oval in 2008.
His century also made him the third-youngest Indian to score a first Test century in Australia. At a younger age, only two other Indians, Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant, achieved the goal. Tendulkar was only 18 when he scored his first Test debut ton back in 1992. Pant, who is now 21, followed suit in 2019
Reddy’s performance wasn’t just a personal triumph, but it also tied him to some global cricketing legends. He equalled a rare record, joining the likes of England’s Michael Vaughan and West Indies’ Chris Gayle. Both Vaughan and Gayle had hit eight sixes in a series against Australia. Reddy now stands as the third player to join that exclusive club.
The MCG crowd witnessed Reddy’s remarkable consistency, hitting eight sixes in total during his century. This puts him in the same league as Vaughan (2003-04) and Gayle (2009-10), who both hit the same number of sixes in their respective series. By the time of stumps on Day 3, Nitish Kumar Reddy was unbeaten on 105 runs.
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