The third day of the ongoing Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) saw two young South Indian cricketers, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, play vital roles in rescuing India from a precarious position. At 221/7, India was in deep trouble, but the duo came together to produce a historic 127-run partnership for the eighth wicket, the highest ever for India in Tests on Australian soil.
Reddy, in particular, was in sensational form, scoring his maiden Test century, which included 10 fours and a six. His resilient knock not only helped India recover but also made his family and the entire nation proud. Sundar, supporting him at the other end, struck a half-century, further solidifying their crucial partnership that kept India’s hopes alive in the match after a sudden collapse on the previous day.
Reflecting on their remarkable partnership, Washington Sundar shared their mindset, emphasizing their determination to fight in every situation. “The intent was definitely to fight no matter what the situation is. Very grateful to be in an atmosphere like this where so many people are coming out to support us,” he said in an interview with Star Sports after rain forced an early close on the third day.
ALSO READ: Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Maiden Test Century Makes Family Proud As He Prioritizes Team Success
Washington Sundar explained that the pair were focused on staying patient and playing through every phase of the innings, and the way Reddy batted was particularly inspiring. “We kind of saw through every little phase quite well,” Sundar added.
A fantastic effort from Washington Sundar to bring up his 50! #AUSvIND | #MilestoneMoment | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/xIIJ3go51r
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2024
The strategy for Reddy and Sundar was clear from the dressing room: take as much time as possible and wear down the Australian bowlers. After the loss of seven wickets, the message was to occupy the crease, and they executed this to perfection.
“The message was quite clear from the dressing room. We just needed to playtime no matter what,” Washington Sundar revealed. The two players were aware that the runs would come eventually, especially as the Australians began to tire under the relentless pressure of the partnership.
ALSO READ: Joseph Radhik Reflects On Capturing Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s Iconic Wedding Moments
India’s resilience was on full display as they batted through the entire third day, adding 194 runs to their overnight score. At the close of play, India was still 116 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total of 474, with Reddy remaining unbeaten. The visitors are hopeful that Reddy can continue his strong performance and add more valuable runs with the tail end of the innings still to come. The partnership between Reddy and Sundar has given India a much-needed lift in what has been a challenging series so far.
