BGT 2024-25: [Watch] Nitish Kumar Reddy does the 'Pushpa' celebration after reaching maiden test fifty in MCG test

Nitish Kumar Reddy formed a crucial partnership with Washington Sundar to help India avoid the follow-on.

After recording four scores between 35 and 45 in the first three tests of the BGT 2024-25, India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy finally reached his maiden half-century in test cricket and celebrated it with the famous ‘Pushpa’ celebration.

Reddy’s fifty came at a crucial juncture for India. The side was in a precarious position on day 3 after losing Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja but the young Andhra all-rounder formed an important stand with the young Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar as the duo helped India avoid the follow-on.

Reddy came into this match after impressive batting performances in Perth and Adelaide, having recorded scores of 41, 38*, 42 and 42, top-scoring for the team thrice in those four innings.

He batted at No. 8 in this innings and came into bat at the score of 191/6, with India still requiring 84 runs to avoid the follow-on. Reddy joined hands with Sundar, who came in at 221/7, and the duo stitched a gritty partnership of 73* until the time of writing to avoid the follow-on.

In his solid half-century, Reddy creamed four fours and a six, and is batting on 62* at the moment. Reddy reached his fifty with a slash over point off a Mitchell Starc delivery.

Starc bowled a length ball wide outside the off-stump and Reddy flayed his bat at it. The ball was in the air but way beyond any fielder’s reach and it went for a four. Reddy raised his bat to the Indian dressing room before doing the ‘Pushpa’ celebration for the crowd.

Watch: Nitish Kumar Reddy does the ‘Pushpa’ celebration after reaching maiden test fifty in MCG test

Meanwhile, at the time of writing, India are 294/7, trailing by 180 more runs.

Teams:

Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep

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