NEW DELHI Team India all-rounder Washington Sundar heaped praise on youngster Nitish Kumar Reddy following the third day of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG.
Reddy’s knock, coated by his maiden international centurywas particularly inspiring as he rose to the challenge under intense pressure to steer India past the follow-on mark and achieve personal milestones, all while delivering a moment of joy with his celebratory antics.
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Speaking at the press conference after the stumps on Day 3, Sundar emphasized the clarity the team maintained regarding their responsibilities.
“I was just focusing on what was required of me from the team’s perspective. You know, that gave me a lot of clarity and made things easier for me to focus on what I was supposed to be focusing on, because we were very sure and aware of what the team required throughout the day,” Sundar said.
“I mean, the coach and the captain kept reminding us about that. So, in that fashion, I guess in terms of clarity, we were reassured about what exactly we needed to know. It was definitely important for us to spend a lot of time out there in the middle because runs would come at some stage, even if they didn’t in some phases of the game. Runs would definitely come, but the most important thing was obviously to dig in, especially with that partnership, and spend a lot of time out there in the middle. I think we did that pretty well today.”
His 127-run stand with Reddy was a textbook example of disciplined Test cricketcombining patience with timely aggression.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, despite being a new entrant to Test cricket, displayed his temperament and skill. Walking in at a precarious 191/6, with India staring at the follow-on, Reddy built his innings methodically.
His maiden Test fifty was punctuated with flair as he unveiled a playful tribute to the movie Pushpa by mimicking its iconic “Thaggede le” gesture.
“It’s fire and not flowers. The celebration — he killed it, honestly. I’m sure he’s got many more tricks up his sleeve. It’ll just be a matter of him getting many more hundreds, and you guys will see a lot more celebrations,” added Sundar.
Later in the innings, Reddy’s journey to his maiden hundred was a rollercoaster.
With India precariously poised at 350/9, needing just one more run for his century, he showcased immense composure despite visible tension.
As Mohammed Siraj faced Pat Cummins, Reddy could only applaud each ball Siraj survived. Finally, a clean strike for a boundary over Scott Boland’s head broke the suspense, completing a milestone he richly deserved.
His 100 off 171 balls, studded with 10 fours and one six, further confirmed his status as India’s standout player on this Australian tour.
“I mean, the way he batted, he definitely deserved a hundred, didn’t he? We knew it was going to come. I mean, we knew God would be very kind in that regard. So yeah, we were very confident that he would go past his hundred, and eventually, it was very special. I mean, it’s an amazing experience to be a part of,” Sundar stated as the early stumps due to wet outfield saw India wrap up Day 3 at 358/9.
