"Some people doubted me" - Nitish Reddy makes a strong statement after maiden ton in 4th BGT 2024-25 Test at the MCG

Team India's batting all-rounder Nitish Reddy has stated that he was aware of doubts being raised over his selection in the Test team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He added that he was keen to prove such people wrong and let them know that he is here to give his 100 percent to the Indian team.

Reddy (21) was the hero for India with the bat in the first innings of the ongoing Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Responding to Australia's first innings total of 474, the visitors were in trouble at 221-7. The youngster, however, notched up his maiden Test ton to lead India's tremendous fightback.

Speaking to the media after Day 4 of the tightly contested Test match, Reddy shared his thoughts on his performance in the ongoing series and said that he was keen to prove his critics wrong. The Andhra Pradesh cricketer said (as quoted by news agency PTI):

"Some people doubted me, like a youngster who played IPL, can't perform in such a big series. I know a lot of people did talk like that. I just want to make them feel wrong about what they have said about me and that's what I am doing, I want people to know that I am here to give my 100 percent for Indian team."

Asked about the rise in his stature as a cricketer over the last month, Reddy replied that it's a result of all the hard work that he has put in over the last two to three years. The right-handed batter elaborated:

"I guess for you guys, it is like one or two months. For me, it's like, I can see my past two to three years. How hard I've been working on my batting and bowling.

"After the first IPL season, I realized what I have to improve my batting and I came up with a plan. When I got the off-season, I worked a lot on my batting and that's what is giving results now. It's not about the one month and two months, I have done the work from last two-three years to be here," the 21-year-old added.

Reddy struck 11 fours and a six in his 189-ball 114 as India posted 369 in reply to Australia's first innings total of 474. The batter's knock ended in the first session of Day 4 when he holed out trying to take on Nathan Lyon.

---

"The first person who believed in me was my father" - Nitish Reddy

Nitish's father Mutyalu made plenty of sacrifices towards fulfilling his son's dream of becoming a cricketer. He even quit his job to help his son pursue his cricket career. Hailing his father, Reddy said:

"To be honest, my father had 25 years of service in central government and when I was a nobody, and hadn't played a state-level game, the first person who believed in me was my father.

"He believed in me and he resigned from his job for me. He would take me to the ground, gym, always he wanted to be with me. He made a lot of sacrifices. If I have to tell about him, time won't be sufficient but I am so grateful to have a father like him. I helped my team in a difficult situation to where we can fight back strongly. So that was a special century for me and for my father as well." India's latest cricket sensation added.

Meanwhile, India are on the back foot in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG despite Jasprit Bumrah's four-fer. Australia went to stumps on Day 4 at 228-9, with a healthy lead of 333 runs.