Melbourne, Dec 29 (Reporter) Following his maiden century in international cricket, Nitish Kumar Reddy remains upbeat about India’s prospects in the ongoing Test match at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). With the team poised for the second innings, Reddy stressed the importance of building one or two solid partnerships and staying positive to make a strong comeback. "Our goal is to build one or two solid partnerships in the second innings and stay positive," Nitish told reporters, displaying confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back after a challenging first innings. Reflecting on his personal achievement, he described scoring his first century for India as a "very special moment," especially as it helped the team recover from a tough situation. "It’s not only special for me but also for my father. The spectators went crazy, which added to the thrill," Nitish shared. Reddy modestly acknowledged that the applause for his century might not have been as loud as that for Mohammed Siraj, but he expressed immense satisfaction with his contribution. "Even though the applause for my century might not have been as loud as for Siraj, I thoroughly enjoyed those moments. I must also thank Siraj who helped me reach the milestone," he added. As the match progresses, Nitish remains focused on improving and adapting. “We haven’t discussed our strategy for the second innings yet, but I believe everyone in the team is capable of adjusting to the pitch. Our plan is to learn from our mistakes in the first innings and approach the next innings with a better mindset,” he said, confident in his team's ability to adapt. He opened up about the years of hard work leading up to this moment. "This journey has been about working hard over the past two to three years, especially on my batting and bowling. After my first IPL season, I realised the areas I needed to improve, particularly my batting, and I worked relentlessly. Fitness has been a priority for me as an allrounder," Reddy explained. In addition to his technical preparations, Nitish acknowledged the challenges of facing worldclass bowlers like Scott Boland, stressing the importance of disrupting their rhythm. "When facing bowlers like Boland, I try to disrupt their rhythm by adjusting my stance and timing. It’s about making them adapt instead of allowing them to settle," he said. Reddy also paid tribute to his father, who made significant sacrifices to support his cricketing dreams. "He served in the central government for 25 years but resigned from his job to support my cricketing dreams. His sacrifices are beyond words, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything he has done for me," he shared emotionally. Looking ahead, Nitish remains focused on his goal of becoming a complete allrounder, while drawing inspiration from figures like Virat Kohli. "Watching someone like Virat Kohli has always been an inspiration for me. Sharing the field with him, especially during this match where he scored a century, was a dream come true," he said. With Reddy’s strong belief in his team's potential, India will look to capitalise on their second innings as they aim for a positive result in the match...////...