#NitishKumarReddy

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Reddy`s Maiden Century Rescues India at MCG

In a thrilling turn of events at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), India's Nitish Kumar Reddy stole the spotlight with his maiden Test century, rescuing his team from a precarious position in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

Reddy, batting at number eight, combined with fellow allrounder Washington Sundar to forge a crucial 124-run stand for the eighth wicket. This partnership was instrumental in salvaging India's innings, which had slumped to 7-221 in response to Australia's first innings total of 474. Reddy's unbeaten 105, achieved in a 176-ball innings, narrowed India's deficit to 115 runs with two days of play remaining.

The young allrounder demonstrated remarkable temperament and technique, showcasing a range of shots that belied his lower-order batting position. His innings included aggressive blows, but also a disciplined approach, earning him praise from Australian bowler Scott Boland, who noted that Reddy `looks like he's got pretty much every shot in the book`[3].

Reddy's century is only the fourth by a number-eight batter in Australia, following similar feats by Pakistan's Yasir Shah, England's Matt Prior, and West Indies' Gerry Alexander. His performance has highlighted his potential for a higher batting order role in the future[1].

Meanwhile, Australia's bowling unit faces a concern with Mitchell Starc dealing with an upper-body injury. Despite this, Starc continued to bowl, showing his resilience and ability to perform through pain. Scott Boland expressed confidence that Starc would be fit for the fourth innings, praising his toughness and ability to maintain high speeds even when injured[5].

Top Performers:
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: 105 (India)
- Washington Sundar: 50 (India)

Scores:
- Australia: 474
- India: 9-358 (Reddy 105, Sundar 5

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