Nitish 'Pushpa' Reddy gives India a breather, sends clear cut 'jhukega nahi' message to Australia at MCG

Nitish Reddy smashed his maiden Test 100 against Australia at MCG

Nitish Reddy surely gave India a breather in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at Melbourne on Saturday. The all-rounder, who has now become India's leading run-scorer at the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, smashed a stylish ton and stitched an almost perfect rescue act with Washington Sundar.

This was Reddy's first ton in Tests and makes him the third youngest after Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant to record a three-figure mark by an Indian on Australian soil. Reddy joined the proceedings after Rishabh Pant gifted his wicket to Australia by playing a rash shot. India at that moment were batting at 191/6 and 27 runs later the visitors lost Ravindra Jadeja, who was trapped LBW for 17 by Nathan Lyon.

Nitish Kumar Reddy hits his maiden Test century and receives a standing ovation from the MCG crowd #AUSvIND | #PlayOfTheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/Vbqq5C26gz
cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2024

The twin blows left India in a dire situation as Australia taking a lead of over 200 runs appeared imminent. But the 21-year-old showed great maturity, played as per the situation, and his effort brought some balance in the contest. After being stranded on 40s thrice earlier in the tour, Nitish had a perfect opportunity to unleash his batting credentials and he did the same in some style, a knock Ravi Shastri noted could bring tears in every Indian's eyes.

After completing his half-century, Reddy celebrated the milestone by doing the trademark 'Pushpa' gesture, sending a clear cut 'jhukega nahi' (a famous dialogue from the Allu Arjun movie) to the opposition.

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He didn't stop there and continued to wear out the Aussies by standing firm in the middle, and got the much required support from Sundar. The duo stitched 127 runs - second highest partnership for the 8th wicket or lower for India in Australia.

Nitish Reddy is a proper filmy buffHalf-century celebration: That iconic move from Pushpa movieCentury celebration: That iconic pose from Bahubali movie pic.twitter.com/azQCXy0BzR Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) December 28, 2024

However, moments after Sundar completed his half-century a bit of a tension fueled at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) as it felt that despite the hardwork Reddy this time would be left stranded on 99. It all started with Nathan Lyon ending Sundar's resistance, following which Pat Cummins packed Jasprit Bumrah, leaving Mohammed Siraj three balls to survive, which to every Indian's respite the tail-ender did.

While this was happening on the field, the camera often panned towards his father and other family members watching anxiously from the stands. The emotions were justifiable considering the many stories of sacrifice we learned about the senior Reddy in order to make his son a cricketer.

pic.twitter.com/JVOuMB52Sv
temp (@temp91765) December 28, 2024

And watching his ward get stranded on 99 would have been a heartbreak, something the father admitted while speaking to Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan when play stopped due to bad light soon after Reddy's ton.