‘This one is dedicated to you, Dad’: Nitish Reddy’s heartfelt tribute following his first Test century
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New Delhi, Dec 28 (NationPress) India's promising cricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy dedicated his inaugural Test century to his father, Mutayala Reddy, achieved during the fourth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Nitish’s first Test century arrived at a pivotal moment on the third day of the Boxing Day Test. Entering the game with India in a tough spot, his unbeaten score of 105 not only provided stability to the team but also demonstrated his composure and skill in high-pressure situations. Facing 171 deliveries, his innings comprised 10 boundaries and one six.
After achieving this significant milestone during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Nitish took to social media to share a touching image of his father in tears, captioned: This one is dedicated to you, Dad!
Nitish stepped onto the field at a challenging time for India, who had just lost Rishabh Pant (28) and Ravindra Jadeja (17), leaving them at 221/7 early in the morning session. Despite the increasing pressure, the 21-year-old demonstrated remarkable poise and determination, proving his capability to deliver against a tough Australian bowling attack.
Mutayala Reddy’s steadfast belief in his son's potential prompted him to leave his stable position at Hindustan Zinc in 2016, allowing him to fully support Nitish’s cricket ambitions. This choice came with financial struggles, sleepless nights, and numerous sacrifices, yet Mutayala remained resolute in his support.
My father sacrificed his job for my future, Nitish disclosed in a BCCI video. I once witnessed him in tears due to our financial troubles, which profoundly impacted me. I understood that I needed to take cricket seriously—not only for myself but for him. I vividly remember gifting him my first jersey and the joy it brought him. That moment fueled my motivation.
This innings also underscored Reddy’s exceptional consistency during the series. Prior to his MCG achievements, he contributed significant scores of 41, 38 not out, 42, and 16 across five innings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With India still behind by 116 runs, Reddy’s performance will be crucial as he continues batting alongside Mohammed Siraj on Day 4.
