The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to social media to celebrate Nitish Kumar Reddy’s maiden Test fifty during the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Posting a tweet with the caption “Flower nahi, fire hai,” the BCCI acknowledged the 21-year-old batter’s crucial innings, which helped India avoid a follow-on.
Batting at No. 8, Reddy showcased immense grit under pressure after India found itself in deep trouble. Coming to the crease following Rishabh Pant’s dismissal by Scott Boland, Reddy anchored the innings with a composed knock, scoring 50 off 81 deliveries, including four boundaries and a six. His Pushpa-inspired celebration upon reaching the milestone further electrified the moment, drawing parallels to the iconic dialogue by Tollywood actor Allu Arjun.
At the time of his arrival, India was 84 runs away from avoiding the follow-on. Reddy built a 30-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja for the seventh wicket before forming a more substantial stand with Washington Sundar, adding over 80 runs for the eighth wicket.
The spirited knock not only guided India past the 300-run mark for the second time in the series but also provided the team with much-needed momentum. Reddy’s debut performance has earned widespread acclaim, with fans and cricket experts praising his maturity and composure.
