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Xtra Time Web Desk: Nitish Kumar Reddy delivered a standout performance under pressure during the Boxing Day Test, scoring his maiden half-century in Test cricket on Saturday. The 21-year-old batter celebrated the milestone in style, drawing inspiration from the blockbuster movie ‘Pushpa: The Rise’.

Reddy, who had missed out on a fifty in earlier innings, finally reached the mark by smashing a boundary off a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc. His celebration stole the spotlight as he mimicked the signature gesture of Pushpa Raj, the lead character played by Allu Arjun in the film. Raising his bat around his neck, Reddy recreated the iconic move, leaving fans and teammates thrilled.

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Nitish Kumar reddy PUSHPA mannerism with bat ????????#Pushpa2TheRule pic.twitter.com/15MhTJF39A

— Musugu Donga (@MusuguDhonga) December 28, 2024

Veteran commentator Sunil Gavaskar, quick to catch the reference, reacted with humor, saying, “O… Pushpa,” before quoting the famous line, “Pushpa jhukega nahi,” which translates to “Pushpa will never bow down!”

Reddy’s gritty half-century came at a crucial juncture when India faced a collapse late on Day 2, losing key wickets, including Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36). The struggles continued early on Day 3 as Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja departed quickly. However, Reddy, along with Washington Sundar, steadied the innings to help India avoid the follow-on and cut down the deficit.

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Reddy’s knock also elevated him to third among India’s top run-scorers in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His composure and resilience at the crease have earned widespread praise, especially since this series marks his debut in Test cricket.

With his maiden fifty and a celebration that captured the crowd’s imagination, Reddy has certainly made his mark on the big stage.