Nitish Kumar Reddy delivered an impressive performance under pressure during the Boxing Day Test on Saturday, securing his first-ever half-century in Test cricket. He marked the milestone with a unique and memorable celebration.
After several near-misses, Reddy finally broke through to reach the coveted 50, much to the joy of his fans and teammates. The 21-year-old batter brought up his half-century in style, striking a boundary off a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc, before celebrating with a gesture inspired by the recently-released film Pushpa: The Rise.
In homage to the iconic character Pushpa Raj, Reddy raised his bat around his neck, mimicking the famous gesture made by actor Allu Arjun. This celebration immediately caught the eye of veteran commentator Sunil Gavaskar, who recognized the reference.
With a hint of amusement, Gavaskar exclaimed, “O… Pushpa,” acknowledging the iconic line from the film, “Pushpa jhukega nahi,” which translates to “Pushpa will never bow down.”
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The line symbolizes unwavering determination, a spirit that Reddy appeared to channel as he celebrated his hard-earned achievement.