Nitish’s century celebration was a sight to behold and carried a deeper significance. After reaching the milestone, he knelt on the pitch, planted his bat into the ground, and rested his helmet atop it. Explaining his heartfelt gesture in a video shared by the BCCI on X, Nitish said, “After my hundred, I was planting my bat over there and keeping my helmet, so the Indian flag is there. I am just planting the Indian flag and saluting it.”

Earlier in the innings, he added a touch of flair to his half-century celebration, drawing inspiration from the iconic Pushpa movie. But his century celebration struck an emotional chord, symbolizing his respect and love for the nation.

The road to his first Test hundred was anything but smooth. India’s innings faced turbulence after quick dismissals of Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah. Nitish, however, remained resolute, keeping his composure despite mounting pressure.

The defining moment came when Mohammed Siraj joined him at the crease. Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins tried to deny Nitish his landmark with a tight over, but Siraj stood firm, ensuring Nitish got the strike. The young all-rounder seized the opportunity, completing his well-deserved hundred.

Sharing his thoughts on this achievement, Nitish said, “I just kept saying to myself, keep fighting, which motivated me. Siraj was like, ‘I will do it.’ He was boosted up, and I was so happy. I wanted to perform in Australia so that everyone recognizes me.”

Nitish also credited his fighting spirit to head coach Gautam Gambhir, a veteran known for his resilience in challenging situations. Washington Sundar, who partnered with Nitish earlier in the innings, emphasized Gambhir’s influence on the team’s mindset.

“Today was special. Nitish and I kept telling each other that we would keep fighting no matter what. That is something that has come from Gauti bhai. That made things easier for us. A lot of things went our way. Really happy for Nitish for his first hundred,” Sundar said.

As the Test progresses, India trails by 116 runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Mohammed Siraj remain unbeaten, carrying the hopes of a nation into Day 4 of the match. Fans eagerly await what promises to be another enthralling day of cricket.

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During the post-day press conference, Sundar expressed his admiration for the team’s fighting spirit, crediting the influence of key figures like Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir, who have consistently emphasized the importance of battling through challenging situations. “One thing, especially with Rohit Bhai and Gauti Bhai, and all the support staff, they keep telling us to fight no matter what. That’s something that’s been instilled in us – we’ll fight no matter what, no matter the situation,” Sundar said. “Playing for India, especially in a ground like MCG, during a big occasion like the Boxing Day Test against Australia, we’ll do whatever it takes to be in a good position. I think today was definitely a good day, and I’m very happy for Nitish, who scored an unbelievable 100. I’m sure it will be remembered forever.”

Sundar, who scored a gritty half-century off 162 balls, was eventually dismissed by Nathan Lyon, but his performance, alongside Reddy, played a pivotal role in India’s fightback. Sundar’s comments highlighted the determination and commitment of the team, as they continue to persevere despite difficult circumstances.

By the end of the day, India had reached 358/9, still trailing by 116 runs. Sundar and Reddy’s partnership ensured that India remained in contention, setting the stage for a gripping conclusion to the match. Reddy’s remarkable innings of 105 not out from 176 balls, which included 10 fours and one six, showcased his composure under pressure. With a strike rate of 59.66, Reddy’s knock was instrumental in keeping India’s hopes alive.

Reddy’s century was particularly notable, as he became the third youngest Indian to score a maiden Test century in Australia, following in the footsteps of legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant. At 21 years and 216 days, Reddy joined this exclusive club, a testament to his maturity and talent. Tendulkar had scored his first century at 18 years and 256 days in 1992, while Pant reached his at 21 years and 92 days in 2019.

Pat Cummins and Scott Boland were the standout bowlers for Australia, each claiming three wickets, while Nathan Lyon took two. Due to adverse weather conditions, including bad light and rain, early stumps were called. India will resume their innings on Sunday, with Reddy and Mohammed Siraj (2*) at the crease, looking to continue their fightback.

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India’s assistant coach, Abhishek Nayar, shed light on these decisions during a post-match briefing after the opening day’s play. Explaining the inclusion of Sundar, Nayar said, “Looking at these conditions and the pitch, having Washi in the bowling attack will give us that variation, especially when the ball gets old. After the 50 overs, we felt that was an area we wanted to get better at. We felt Washi could give us that solidarity with Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), especially with Travis Head and Alex Carey getting runs lower down.”

Sundar’s ability to bowl economical overs while providing subtle variations is expected to bolster India’s spin department, particularly on a pitch that might offer more assistance to spinners as the game progresses.

Addressing Shubman Gill’s exclusion, Nayar emphasized it was not a reflection of the young batter’s form but rather a tactical call. “Rohit will come up in the order and, more likely than not, he will open the innings. Unfortunately for Gill, he had to miss out. He understands it’s the team’s requirement and it’s unfortunate, but I wouldn’t say that he has been dropped. It’s just unfortunate that he couldn’t find his place in this game,” Nayar clarified.

When questioned about a reported on-field incident involving Virat Kohli and Australia’s debutant Sam Konstas, Nayar appeared unaware of the details. “Honestly, I don’t know. We were having a conversation outside. I am not aware of what happened, why it happened, and if anything happened. But when you play a game like that, there will be emotions, but I am pretty sure that it’s not as big as it seems,” he remarked, playing down the speculation.

Nayar also lauded Konstas for his impressive performance, which has already left a mark on the series. “We saw him in the Prime Minister’s XI game when he got a 100 against us. We knew what we were up against. It’s always refreshing to see someone come and play good cricket, whether that’s our team or the opposition. So, credit to him,” he said, acknowledging the youngster’s talent and composure.

As the Boxing Day Test unfolds, India’s bold moves, including Sundar’s inclusion and Rohit’s elevation, will be under scrutiny. Fans and experts alike will be watching closely to see how these changes influence the outcome of this crucial encounter.

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