Xtra Time Web Desk: India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy etched his name in the record books on Saturday, December 28, as he scored his maiden Test century during the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne. The 21-year-old played a composed and scintillating innings of 105* off 176 balls, laced with ten fours and a six, helping India reduce their first-innings deficit significantly.

Reddy, carrying his fine form into the Test, looked calm and assured from the outset. He cruised to 99 and showed no signs of nerves as he neared the milestone. However, drama unfolded when India lost Washington Sundar (50) and Jasprit Bumrah in quick succession, leaving the team at 350/9.

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The last man in, Mohammed Siraj, known more for his bowling than batting, faced three deliveries from Pat Cummins and successfully returned the strike to Reddy. On the very next ball, Reddy lofted Scott Boland for a straight drive, reaching the landmark in style. He celebrated jubilantly with Siraj, who had played his part in the moment.

After rain ended play early on Day 3, Reddy took to social media to share a witty post about Siraj, writing, “I also believe in Siraj bhai.” The post was a playful nod to Siraj’s famous comment during the T20 World Cup 2024 final, where he praised Jasprit Bumrah, saying, “I only believe in Jassi bhai.” The phrase has since gone viral, spawning countless memes online, and Reddy’s spin on it delighted fans.

At 21 years and 216 days, Reddy became the third-youngest Indian to score a maiden Test century in Australia. He trails only Rishabh Pant (21 years 92 days) and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (18 years 256 days) on the list.

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Thanks to Reddy’s heroics, India finished Day 3 on 358/9, trailing Australia by 116 runs. His knock not only showcased his maturity but also reinforced his position as one of Indian cricket’s brightest emerging stars.