"Won whole India's heart today, what a century" - Fans erupt as Nitish Kumar Reddy hits maiden ton in BGT 2024-25 Boxing Day Test

India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy smashed his maiden Test ton against Australia on Day 3 (Saturday, December 28) of the fourth Test in Melbourne. The 21-year-old reached the three-figure mark off 171 balls, a knock laced with one six and nine boundaries. He smashed a four off Boland to get to the milestone.

The right-handed batter also stitched a crucial 126-run partnership with Washington Sundar after the tourists were reduced to 221/7.

Reddy has looked stunning with the bat throughout the series. He scored 41 and an unbeaten 38 in the first Test in Perth before returning with 42 twice in the second Test in Adelaide. A big score was on the cards and he delivered when the visitors needed it the most.

Fans on X lauded Nitish Kumar Reddy for his fighting century in the Boxing Day Test match. One user wrote:

"Nitish Kumar Reddy... cometh the hour cometh the man."

Another user wrote:

"This Hundred Will Be Remembered For Ages."

A third user added:

"You won whole India's heart today. What a century"

Here are a few more reactions:

Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar save India from blemishes

Clinical batting display from Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, where they shared a century-plus partnership, saved India on Day 3. Sundar also chipped in with 50 off 162 deliveries, featuring a solitary boundary.

At the time of writing, the tourists were 358/9, with Reddy (105*) and Mohammed Siraj (2*) at the crease. They are trailing by 116 more runs in the first innings. Pat Cummins and Scott Boland were the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets apiece.

Batting first, Australia posted 474. Steve Smith came up with back-to-back centuries, scoring 140. The top three batters also chipped in with half-centuries. Jasprit Bumrah bagged four wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja returned with three scalps.

The five-game series is tied 1-1. India won the series opener in Perth by 295 runs before Australia emerged victorious in Adelaide by 10 wickets. The third Test ended in a draw due to rain interruptions.

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