Melbourne [Australia], December 29: Following a strong performance with the ball on Day 4 of the fourth Test against Australia, Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy shared his excitement about his maiden international century and the opportunity to play alongside his idol, Virat Kohli.
Nitish continued his dream run in the series by scoring 114 runs off 189 balls, including 11 fours and a six, helping India reach 369 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 474. Later, Jasprit Bumrah (4/56) and Mohammed Siraj (3/66) took vital wickets, reducing Australia to 228/9 by the end of the day’s play, with the hosts leading by 333 runs.
In the post-day press conference, Nitish reflected on playing with Virat Kohli, whom he has admired since childhood. “It was such a grateful moment for me. I’ve watched Virat Kohli since I was a child, and he has been my idol. To finally play with him was surreal. When he scored a hundred in Perth and I was at the non-strike end, I felt so happy. Today, when I scored my hundred, he came to me and appreciated my innings, saying I had brought the team back into the game. It was a moment I had always dreamed of,” said Nitish.
Nitish’s performance in the series has been exceptional; with 293 runs in four matches, he is India’s top run-scorer and the second-highest overall, with an average of 58.60. He also has three wickets in the series.
When discussing his strategy against Australian pacer Scott Boland, who is known for his accuracy and consistency, Nitish explained, “Boland is a very consistent bowler, so I tried to adjust his line and length by stepping out of the crease. It allowed me to get closer to the ball and make better adjustments. This tactic has been working for me.”
Nitish, who earned a spot in the Indian team after an impressive IPL season where he scored 303 runs in 13 matches, said he was originally expected to contribute as a full-fledged all-rounder but admitted that his bowling still needs improvement. “I’m not happy with my bowling yet, but I’m working hard to improve. I want to fulfill the all-rounder role in the future,” he said. “Over the last two to three years, I’ve focused on both my batting and bowling, and fitness has been a key part of my progress.”
Reflecting on his journey, Nitish revealed how his first IPL season helped him recognize areas for improvement in his batting, which he has worked on intensively during his time off. “It’s not just about working for a couple of months; I’ve been putting in the effort for the past two to three years to get here,” he concluded.
As for the match itself, Australia opted to bat first and posted a total of 474/10. Half-centuries from Konstas (60), Usman Khawaja (57), Marnus Labuschagne (72), and Steve Smith’s 34th Test ton (140) took Australia to a strong position. For India, Bumrah (4/99) and Ravindra Jadeja (3/78) led the bowling attack, while Akash Deep and Washington Sundar took a wicket each.
India’s reply saw them reduced to 51/2 early, but a solid 127-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36) steadied the ship. However, Jaiswal was run out, and Kohli was dismissed, leaving India at 164/5 at the close of Day 2. Nitish’s partnership with Washington Sundar (50) produced a 127-run stand, which helped India reach 369.
In Australia’s second innings, the hosts were reduced to 91/6, but Labuschagne (70) and Cummins (41) guided them to 228/9 by the end of Day 4.