AUS vs IND, 4th Test: Nitish Kumar Reddy soars high as India extends battle vs Australia
AUS vs IND, 4th Test: Nitish Kumar Reddy soars high as India extends battle vs Australia
In one of cricket’s grand theatres, Nitish Kumar Reddy soared high. His splendid hundred (105 batting) and his alliance with Washington Sundar, helped India reveal a spine in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Saturday.
At a rain-induced close on the third day, the visitors scored 358 for nine in the first innings while trailing Australia’s 474. The host has an edge but through Nitish and Washington, Rohit Sharma’s men have extended the battle.
Nitish, surely has taken a liking for the Australian attack, just like the biryani picture he posted on his X, previously Twitter, a few days ago. Through this Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, the youngster from Visakhapatnam, registered 41, 38 n.o., 42, 42 and 16. The latest unbeaten ton is obviously the crown jewel.
If Nitish was all about controlled aggression, Washington preferred obduracy. As partners, they had synergy, and through them India breathed easy. Having joined forces at 221 for seven before lunch, the batters hung in together.
Alert to the single, even if it meant the odd risky one, the partnership had its highlight-reels thanks to Nitish. He drove Mitchell Starc, but the best was when he leant into a straight-drive off Scott Boland. The new ball did not have much effect even if Starc lured an edge from Washington, which eluded Steve Smith.
Nitish finally got to his maiden fifty and imitated Allu Arjun’s signature move from the movie Pushpa, as his bat mimicked a hand sliding under an imaginary beard. When Washington took a single, the fans clad in blue, merrily applauded as it helped India avoid the follow-on at 275.
Southpaw Washington punched Starc past cover, and Nitish scooped Mitchell Marsh beyond a diving Starc at fine-leg and drove another through the sweeper-cover picket. A drizzle advanced tea and India was on 326 for seven.
After the break, Washington reached his 50 and then fell to Lyon and by then the eighth-wicket partnership had clocked 127 runs. In his 90s, Nitish watched Jasprit Bumrah fatally nibble one off Pat Cummins.
Just as the audience held its breath, Mohammed Siraj survived, and there was relief and joy all around when Nitish hit a four off Boland, went down on one knee, looked towards his father Mutyala Reddy in the stands, placed his helmet on the bat and gazed at the sky.
Earlier, resuming at 164 for five, India’s hopes rested on the lower-order. Rishabh Pant lofted Cummins and pulled Boland. However, Pant’s impetuous streak overwhelmed him. Attempting a scoop over the wicket-keeper’s head off Boland, Pant toppled. He then attempted an encore and found Lyon at third-man. This was aggression devoid of intelligence.
The stage was set for Nitish and he drove solidly while Ravindra Jadeja flicked and punched before getting trapped by Lyon. It was left to Nitish to bolster spirits and he did that with a six off Lyon. With Washington for company, he guided India to 244 for seven at lunch. And the two became India’s pillars.
