Nitish Kumar Reddy emerged as the hero for India on the third day of the Boxing Day Test by hitting a stunning maiden Test century to lead the hosts' charge in front of 83, 073 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Playing only his fourth Test, Reddy was astute in his strokeplay and solid in defence as he joined hands with fellow all-rounder Washington Sundar, who hit a patient fifty, for a decisive 127-run stand for the eighth wicket, as India ended day three at 358/9 in 116 overs and trailed Australia by 116 runs.
With his father Mutyala, with a constant prayer towards God, and other family members watching eagerly from the front seat in the stands, Reddy brought up an emotional century in 171 deliveries through a lofted on-drive off Scott Boland. The moment the hundred was confirmed, Reddy dropped to his knees and looked up towards heaven before soaking in the moment of hitting his first Test century in front of his family at an iconic venue.
Reddy became the first Indian batman to score a century while batting at number eight or lower in Australia and just nine balls after it happened, bad light then later drizzle forced off the field both teams in what was a Test between the two teams, when right-handed bat man held his bat aloft soaks in all the appreciations from his team mates and spectators at the MCG.
It was not until the final session's play that rain forced an early tea, but when proceedings resumed, Reddy and Sundar maintained their discipline and composure in face of tight Australian bowling.
Sundar moved on to hit his fourth half-century in 146 balls, as he and Reddy, who swept Nathan Lyon for four more, frustrated Australia. Lyon finally broke the stubborn stand by getting a ball to bounce and take the outside edge of Sundar's bat to first slip. After Nitish took a dramatic two runs, Cummins took his third wicket by having Jasprit Bumrah nick to first slip.
After Mohammed Siraj survived three balls to give Reddy a chance to score his century, the all-rounder reached his maiden ton in the next over, leading to emotional scenes for him and his family in the stands. Reddy also became only the second Indian to make his maiden Test century at the MCG, after Vinoo Mankad did so in 1948.
India will be hoping Reddy and Siraj get as many runs as possible on day four after day three saw the visitors stage a superb fightback.
Brief Scores: Australia 474 in 122.4 overs (Steve Smith 140; Jasprit Bumrah 4-99) lead India 358/9 in 116 overs (Nitish Kumar Reddy 105 not out, Yashasvi Jaiswal 82; Scott Boland 3-57, Pat Cummins 3-86) by 116 runs.
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