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After the day’s play, Reddy took to Twitter and shared a picture with Siraj, stating, ‘I also believe in Siraj bhai.’
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s appreciation for Siraj
Nitish Kumar Reddy set the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ablaze with his gutsy hundred on Saturday, leading India’s fightback in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia. Playing just the fourth Test match of his career, the 21-year-old batter became the third youngest Indian batter to score a hundred in Australia. Reddy notched up the triple figures in 172 deliveries, shouldering India’s innings with Washington Sundar after the Australian bowling attack flattened the middle order.
The duo stitched a record 8th-wicket partnership to bail India out of the spot of bother. But when Reddy was on 97, Sundar nicked a shorter delivery from Nathan Lyon while Steve Smith made no mistake to grab the ball at first slip. A few deliveries later, India lost Jasprit Bumrah, for a 3-ball duck, on the third delivery of the 115th over while Reddy was on 99.
With Siraj being the last man to walk in and take strike, the Indian fans prayed for his survival while facing Pat Cummins. The Indian tail-ender successfully dodged the remaining three deliveries of the over and handed strike to Reddy who then smashed a lofted drive off Scott Boland’s bowling to reach his hundred. The Andhra batter burst into celebration while his father, seated in the stands, was in tears.
After the day’s play, Reddy took to Twitter and shared a picture with Siraj, stating, ‘I also believe in Siraj bhai.’
Reddy referred to Siraj’s statement on Jasprit Bumrah after a thrilling final over in the T20 World Cup earlier this year which India won by defeating South Africa. Siraj heaped praise on Bumrah but ran short of words to express his emotions. However, his remark went viral on social media.
“My only belief was on Jassi bhai. He’s the only game-changer. Whatever I thought exactly happened,” Siraj, who was emotional, said after the game.
With the flat MCG deck not offering much to the bowlers, saving the Test match shouldn’t be a big deal for India. Reddy, easily India’s ‘find of the series’, played a pivotal role in the visitors’ fightback. His unbeaten 105 took India to 358 for nine, still 116 runs short of Australia’s first innings score of 474 as rain brought an early end to the third day’s play.
- Location :
Melbourne, Australia
