Ind vs Aus: Nitish Reddy smashes maiden ton, a star is born in Boxing Day Test

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Ready, Steady, Go. No, it was Reddy, Steady and Go. The 21-year-old Nitish Reddy exploded into brilliance, first scored a half century and then converted into a maiden Test ton, all on Saturday as the boy from Andhra Pradesh turned hero.

First look at his batting, he looks so different. Big back-lift, fearless, great concentration. When he got to his half ton, he enacted the famous 'Pushpa' swipe with his bat.

There was no easing off, no way he was going to throw his wicket. He batted for India, the team, and then himself.

Then came those tantalising moments as he approached the ton. He was on 97, and Nitish Reddy was taking his time, against Scott Boland and Pat Cummins. His eyes were focused, and he knew wickets were falling at the other end. The Reddy community was in the stands, his Dad Mutyala included, with the tricolour in their hands. There are many Telugus in Australia, a massive community in Melbourne itself, techies, software, and doctors.

All one needed to see was a true-blue Andhra boy blossom as a batter. What a way he did it, that straight shot, a drive of sorts going like a tracer bullet. The MCG was bathed in floodlights, it was dark. No, Nitish Reddy lifted the gloom for India. He has risen, like a true all-rounder India had been craving for. And the worst part, a day before the Test, people were debating of he had a place in the 11. Nitish Reddy has changed the narrative.

And the way he celebrated the century, a maiden one, was so classy. He planted his right knee on the turf, kept his bat down, planted his helmet on top and with the left arm aimed skywards. Was this a salutation to Divine Forces, God? Yes. The boy-turned-man has played hard cricket. From penury to poise and ruins to runs, his life story is one of hardships. His family has backed him and Nitish has already become 'Reddy Garu' for some. That's a typical Telugu trait, according respect to someone of stature. This time, the stature is not age, it is a champion born, blasting a ton.

Has the all-rounder India been looking for arrived? Yes, he has. So emphatically. It's easy to write stories on what all family sacrifices was done for his cricket career. Now, the same boy has emerged a champion. Ton in a Boxing Day Test, making fans and commentators go gaga at the MCG, this is defining. Salute Nitish Reddy. This shows how players from even the Indian Premier league can mature. His batting style was not just arrogance or aggro. On Saturday, the 21-year-old showed he can play any type of cricket. And he is a classy player. He showcases, skill, temperament and a steely will. Many before in this famed line-up fell, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma included, all at the MCG.

It is the boys who turned it into a sunny day from sunny South -- Nitish and Washington Sundar. Here are two heroes who staged the escape act for India of Bibilical proportion. The MCG is special, and so was the Aussie attack. The fast bowlers kept coming in cascades at the centurion, Nitish. He showed he is brave and not going to give up.

For this reason alone, Sunrisers Hyderabad retained him before the IPL auction. Hang on, this is just the beginning. The romance of Nitish Reddy is going to last. If he can handle this kind of pressure and such hostile bowling from the Aussies, he reminds many of a former stroke-maker like even Sandeep Patil.

The difference, Nitish Reddy is a batter plus a bowler. More confidence will come. When the BCCI selectors meet next, they need to fast track him into all formats, the Champions Trophy included. A star is born, we sighted it in the cloudy Melbourne sky against the backdrop of floodlight glare on Saturday.