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Xtra Time Web Desk: India’s rising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy etched his name in history with a stunning maiden Test century at the Boxing Day Test on Saturday, December 28, dedicating the milestone to his father. An emotional moment unfolded at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as Nitish’s father, Mutayala Reddy, broke down in tears while witnessing his son’s achievement.

Taking to X, Nitish shared a heartfelt picture of his father’s emotional reaction and captioned it, "This one's for you dad!"

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This one’s for you, dad! ❤️ https://t.co/9qntcj6YBh

— Nitish Kumar Reddy (@NKReddy07) December 28, 2024

Mutayala Reddy’s sacrifices paved the way for Nitish’s cricketing journey. He quit his job at Hindustan Zinc in 2016 to focus entirely on nurturing his son’s talent. It wasn’t an easy road—filled with sleepless nights, financial struggles, and missed meals—but Mutayala’s faith in his son paid off spectacularly.

Recalling those tough times, Nitish said in a video posted by the BCCI, "My father left his job for me and there has been a lot of sacrifice behind my story. One day, I saw him crying because of the financial problems we were facing, and I was like, 'this is not how you can be'. Then I got serious. I gave my first jersey to him and saw the happiness in his face."

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Nitish’s journey to the century wasn’t without drama. He survived a nail-biting LBW appeal off Scott Boland, keeping fans and his father on edge. But the tension turned to triumph when Nitish smashed Boland for a boundary, completing his century in 171 balls and sparking celebrations across the stadium.

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s century not only marked a personal triumph but also stood as a tribute to perseverance and parental sacrifice.