Jaffer, Bishop Praise Reddy's Bold Spirit & Inspiring Tale of Parental Sacrifice
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Dec 28 (NationPress) Nitish Kumar Reddy silenced all skeptics with an outstanding unbeaten score of 105 as he, along with a commendable half-century by Washington Sundar, stabilized India’s position on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
With many questioning his selection over Shubman Gill after he was replaced by Sundar, Reddy's resilient batting helped India conclude the day at 358/9, narrowing Australia’s first innings lead to 116 runs.
As numerous Indians praised the 21-year-old, cricketing legends also took to social media to commend him for securing his position in the team.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri and Wasim Jaffer acknowledged Reddy’s bravery and determination to lead a comeback for India and achieve his first Test century.
“An innings to remember by everyone. For a 21-year-old to display such character under pressure brought tears to many eyes. Pure Gold. Well played, young man. God bless,” Shastri shared on X.
“This young man keeps impressing. His compact technique, gutsy attitude, and the way he values his wicket are commendable traits of an emerging fine Test batter. Very well played,” Jaffer posted on X.
Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop praised the young player for his anchoring innings, highlighting his personal narrative of rising from humble beginnings marked by parental sacrifice.
“That’s a test century of high quality and technical skill from 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy. He expertly left the ball and attacked when necessary. Another deeply inspiring tale of parental sacrifice in Indian cricket,” Bishop noted on X.
Veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami also congratulated Reddy for achieving his first three-figure score in red-ball cricket.
“Congratulations to Nitish Kumar Reddy on scoring his maiden century. This remarkable accomplishment reflects hard work and dedication. We look forward to more successes in your career. Keep inspiring us all,” Shami expressed on X.
Amid the various narratives surrounding the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, perhaps one of the most heartwarming has been the story of Reddy and his father Mutyala, who witnessed his son’s dream materialize.
As Nitish played a lofted shot over mid-on off Scott Boland, cameras captured an ecstatic and emotional Mutyala, who had taken early retirement from his government job to support his son's aspirations.
