HYDERABAD: When Nitish Kumar Reddy knelt down at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to celebrate his century against Australia on Saturday, he stood taller than a giant. It was also his way of telling the world where he came from — the land of Telugu movies or Tollywood — which shapes popular culture in the two Telugu states of AP and Telangana.

Day three was supposed to be a batting day for Australia, and one where the hosts set themselves up for a crucial MCG victory. But in its way was Nitish Kumar Reddy, and the dogged determination of India's generation next.

In a post on his X account, Sachin Tendulkar said that it was a knock to remember by Nitish Reddy. He revealed that the 21-year-old all-rounder impressed him right from the first Test at Perth because of his composure and temperament.