NEW DELHI: Emotions ran wild at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday as over 80,000 fans saluted an incredible maiden century from India’s Nitish Reddy late on the third day of the fourth Test.
As 21-year-old Nitish became the third youngest Indian to score a maiden Test ton in Australia, legendary Sunil Gavaskar too was mighty impressed with the feat from the all-rounder.
Soon after Nitish hit a boundary to notch up his ton, an overjoyed Gavaskar was seen giving the young India star a standing ovation in the comm box.
“Wonderful wonderful shot that. Straight bat and lofted shot to get to his first hundred. And I am pretty certain that this is going to be the first of many hundreds. What a find this man has been for Indian cricket. Superb innings, fantastic temperament. A great mix of talent and temperament. Fantastic stuff, young man. Keep going. Keep going!,” said an extremely happy Gavaskar as he clapped for Reddy on-air.
Nitish returned unbeaten on 105 at stumps on Day 3 after stitching a crucial 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar for the eighth wicket to take India to 385 for 9 in reply to Australia’s 474 in the first innings.
Nitish’s resilient ton was studded with 10 fours and a six as India successfully avoided the follow-on threat and kept Australia at bay throughout the third day’s proceedings after the visitors had lost Rishabh Pant (28) and Ravindra Jadeja (17) early in the first session.
Nitish will again be in the spotlight on Sunday as India still trail by 116 runs in the first innings.
With No.11 Mohammed Siraj, at the other end, Nitish, on Day 4 will look to reduce the remaining deficit as much as possible.