India’s star Nitish Kumar Reddy produced a top-notch knock on Day 3 of the ongoing fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 28. Nitish Kumar Reddy silenced his critics with a spectacular maiden Test century against Australia.
Nitish Reddy sizzles with robust century in MCG Test
The 21-year-old proved his batting prowess and displayed utmost composure under immense pressure, remaining unbeaten on 105 at the close of Day 3’s play. It was Reddy’s brilliant knock which helped India stage a strong fightback and put 385/9 on the board at stumps on Day 3 in response to Australia’s formidable first-innings score of 474.
The star all-rounder also stitched an important 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar, who also contributed a gritty fifty. This eighth-wicket stand stabilised India’s innings after a shaky start, providing the visitors with a fighting chance in the Boxing Day Test.
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Reddy’s century came in the face of criticism from famous cricket commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, who had questioned his place in Team India earlier.Prior to the start of the Boxing Day Test, Manjrekar raised doubts about considering Reddy as a true all-rounder, suggesting it was premature to label him as such. However, Reddy proved him wrong in style at the MCG and let his bat do the talk, justifying his inclusion in the playing XI.
“See, there is no doubting the potential he has and how good he has played. But can we get 120 from somebody who bats at no. 8? He is clearly not a bowler who can get you a seven-wicket haul like Shardul Thakur. Is he, at this stage, good enough to be pushed up the order and played as a pure batter by dropping someone out of form? Then you can add an extra bowler. His bowling is not good enough to play him as a bowling all-rounder. It is too early to consider him as a batting all-rounder,” Sanjay Manjrekar had said during an interaction on ESPNcricinfo.
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Puma Cricket trolls Sanjay Manjrekar
Following Nitish Reddy’s stunning century at the MCG, PUMA Cricket decided to publicly address Sanjay Manjrekar’s previous criticisms of the young all-rounder.
Notably, Reddy is sponsored by PUMA, and the brand seized the opportunity to support their star player while subtly taking a dig at Manjrekar. On the social media platform X, PUMA Cricket brutally trolled Manjrekar by replying to one of his past tweets that questioned Reddy’s place in the Test XI.
In their response, PUMA Cricket posted a picture from an official photoshoot where Nitish Reddy is seen making a “shushing” gesture, a subtle yet powerful message directed at Manjrekar.
Reddy has now become India’s leading run-scorer in the ongoing five-match Test series, amassing 284 runs in four innings so far.
