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Nitish Kumar Reddy: Youngest Indian to achieve maiden Test Century at MCG in Australia

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Nitish Kumar Reddy: Youngest Indian to Achieve Maiden Test Century at MCG in Australia

Hyderabad: Nitish Kumar Reddy made history by becoming the youngest Indian batter to score a century in Australia while batting at No. 8 on December 28, 2024. The 21-year-old all-rounder reached his maiden Test century with a boundary off Scott Boland in the final session of Day 3 of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

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The packed crowd of nearly 80,000 at the iconic venue stood to applaud as Nitish removed his helmet, knelt, and placed it on the handle of his bat in tribute to the heavens.

His father, who was present at the MCG, celebrated with his son, clapping and cheering as the young cricketer became the youngest Indian to score a maiden Test century in Australia. Fans throughout India expressed their admiration by sending congratulatory messages to Nitish for his remarkable achievement.

In a tweet, Nitish expressed his joy, saying, โ€œNothing can match the feeling of making your father proud.โ€

A Fatherโ€™s Sacrifice for a Sonโ€™s Dream

Nitishโ€™s father, Mutyala Reddy, sacrificed significantly for his son’s cricket career. He retired 25 years early from his job and dedicated his time to supporting Nitishโ€™s training. Despite financial challenges, he ensured his son had access to all the necessary facilities. Nitishโ€™s story is a testament to his fatherโ€™s unwavering belief and commitment to his dream.

Early Life and Career

Born on May 26, 2003, in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Nitish was introduced to cricket at the age of 5 with a plastic bat. He regularly visited the Hindustan Zinc grounds to watch senior cricketers play. When his father was transferred to Udaipur, he made the life-changing decision to quit his job and fully support Nitishโ€™s cricket aspirations.

At the age of 12, Nitish moved to the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) academy in Kadapa, where he trained under coaches Madhusudhana Reddy and Srinivasa Rao. Nitishโ€™s talent was soon recognized by former Indian cricketer and selector MSK Prasad, who spotted him during Under-12 and Under-14 age group matches.

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Nitish made a mark in junior cricket with a standout performance in the 2017-18 Vijay Merchant Trophy, scoring 441 runs in a single match, a record for the tournament. He ended the season with 1237 runs at an average of 176.41 and 26 wickets, earning the prestigious BCCI โ€˜Best Cricketer in the Under-16โ€™ Jagmohan Dalmiya Award for the 2017-2018 season.

Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Nitish for โ‚น20 lakh in the 2023 IPL auction. He had a breakthrough year in the 2024 IPL season, winning the Emerging Player of the Year Award. Following his strong performance, SRH retained him for โ‚น6 crores in the 2025 IPL Auction.

Nitish made his T20I debut for India on October 6, 2024, against Bangladesh. He then made his Test debut for India on November 22, 2024, in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Perth. His century at the MCG further solidified his place as a rising star in Indian cricket.