Nitish Kumar Reddy’s family was overjoyed and immensely proud after the 21-year-old all-rounder scored his maiden Test century for India — an unbeaten 105 — at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the Boxing Day Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His incredible knock helped India recover from a precarious 221/7 to 350/9, narrowing the deficit against Australia’s 474 at the end of Day 3.
Reddy’s partnership with Washington Sundar, which lasted 127 runs for the eighth wicket, was crucial in keeping India’s hopes alive. His century made him the youngest Indian to score a century in a Boxing Day Test and the third youngest overall — after legends Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant — to achieve the feat in Australia.
Speaking to Times of India, Nitish Reddy’s sister expressed her family’s pride, saying, “We are all very proud, we are all very happy for this and it happened before us, we just came for this match and it happened in this match. We are all very, very proud and happy for him.” Her joy was evident, as her brother’s success meant the world to their family.
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However, Reddy’s achievement didn’t come without its moments of tension. In the 113th over, Reddy was visibly frustrated when Jasprit Bumrah pushed for a double on the final ball, leaving Bumrah on strike for the next over.
⚠️ Nitish Kumar Reddy Met his Mother, father and Sister after completing his century
Very proud moment for Father that his son Proud Feel to him.
नीतीश कुमार रेड्डी के लिए इससे बड़ा कोई दूसरा पल नहीं हो सकता.😇#INDvAUS #BGT2024 #viralvideo#SikandarTeaser #nitishkumarreddy pic.twitter.com/wkFSEKphuq
— Jogaram Beniwal (@JogaramB84853) December 28, 2024
Jasrpti Bumrah’s dismissal brought Mohammed Siraj to the crease, who had to face a challenging three balls from Australian captain Pat Cummins. Mohammed Siraj survived, and Reddy reached his century on the third ball of the next over, lofting Scott Boland for a boundary.
Reflecting on his brother’s determination, Nitish Reddy’s sister said, “He had those tense moments but he was confident enough that he can score well.” She also spoke about Reddy’s team-first mentality, responding to Gautam Gambhir’s remark that playing for India is like “taking a bullet for the country.” She shared, “I can tell for sure, my brother, more than his individual game, he focuses on the team game, and he plays it. When someone suggests and helps him out to do what he should do, he will definitely do it.”
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Reddy’s journey to this moment has been shaped by his family’s unwavering support. His father sacrificed his job and used most of his savings to support Nitish’s career, while his mother focused on his sister’s education. Reddy’s tattoos symbolize their contributions, serving as a constant reminder of his family’s sacrifices. His century, which included 10 fours and a six, helped India reduce the first-innings deficit to just 116 runs.
