As India’s tour of Australia progressed, coverage increasingly focused on fading veterans – Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli – and speculation about whether someone’s decent result is a last hurray or whether the lack of one is a last hurray is terminal sign. Preoccupation with whether body language, tantrums, or dismissal patterns mean one thing or another, whether any of these interpretations can tell us how much longer they may last or how close they may be to the end.

The sport is obsessed with retirements and departures. Will a player finish on his terms or carry on for too long? God forbid they be evicted too soon. Maybe they’re symbolic little deaths, a way to grapple with the idea in life. The sporty version of children getting a rabbit or a budgie. But the tendency veers into the creepy, nose hanging over the fence, staring at great players and waiting for them to fall. The joy of what a player is doing can be lost by wondering what they might do next.

So while the focus was on the older ones, it wasn’t until the fourth Test in Melbourne that it became clear that the history of this series would be written by the young. There was Sam Konstas on the first day, thrilling the crowd with his short but furious burst of attack, then Nitish Kumar Reddy on the third day, who scored his maiden Test century in an innings of far more meaning and substance. With 358 for 9 against Australia’s 474, he took India from almost certain defeat to hope of salvation.

When he made his debut a month ago, Reddy immediately showed that he had what it took. At just 21, he had already made a name for himself in India, having had some big success in age-group cricket earlier this year and a good IPL season with the bat, although his close-range bowling was broken. Meanwhile, his few first-class games for home minnow Andhra State were disappointing with the bat but encouraging with the ball. Luckily, the Indian selectors knew enough to bring him into the squad and then into the starting XI for the series.

At the start of his tour in Perth, Reddy had the chance to top score with 41 in the first innings when India were last man out and then hit 38 off 27 balls in the second innings when India were on top . Top score again in Adelaide, both innings, with 42. Again no support, last man out and then second to last. Even in Brisbane, where he scored just 16, he struggled for an hour and a quarter as India were anxious to avoid injury, which was the deciding factor in them escaping with a draw.

It was a similar story in Melbourne: he was 283 in the first innings when he came into the game six wickets behind. He had the same advantage as in most of his innings, a free-kick given India’s precarious situation. But this time he had something new: a partner with appropriate batting qualifications in Washington Sundar.

The pace of Reddy’s innings was beautifully measured. Despite being so far behind, he made it a point to get busy right away, trying to direct shots into gaps rather than just defending. He shouted loudly and ran hard, often completing a three-pointer and once a four-pointer. He wasn’t worried about boundaries and scored few in his first half-century, although, as in Perth, he emphasized dynamic footwork opposite Nathan Lyon, sometimes defending on the march but at one point overthrowing him for six.

Most impressive was the speed with which he weathered Pat Cummins’ hostility and Scott Boland’s investigations. Cummins used the short ball in a way that seemed all the more awkward the more it was measured, snorting over armpits and nostrils a few times in a visceral demonstration, occasionally throwing himself up further and further to edge away again and again hit. Reddy absorbed the punches, mastered the bounce, held some back and let others pass with a stylish flourish. His physical presence was intended to show that he was up to the challenge.

It was tough all day, from the second wicketless session until deep into the third. Reddy had a few moments of luck, including a bizarre leading edge on an attempted leg look that somehow flew behind the batsman in the exact opposite direction until second slip. Smith was so stunned to find him there that he couldn’t hold on. But mostly Reddy was in control and struggled to stay there on every ball. It was never easy, but he never hesitated.

At least until he reached 97, when his stoic partner Washington finally bowed out with an even 50. Suddenly there was nervousness in the stadium. With well over 80,000 people at the MCG for the third day in a row, these doubts were reflected in the player. Reddy rejected singles that would have exposed Jasprit Bumrah and clearly didn’t have clear enough words before the last ball of an over when, in a panic, Bumrah played two instead of the single that would have kept the senior on strike.

This gave Cummins a full over to Bumrah, who duly grabbed the third ball, causing chaos as Reddy was reunited with Siraj. India’s Jack managed to defend his stumps for the last three balls and as much as the Australian fans had cheered after the wicket, the roar of recognition when Reddy smoked a straight four was even louder. Applause and respect for the skill and courage of a rising young star.

The only thing sports reporting loves more than retirement is newcomers. Swooning over young players, the thrill of the new. Most people don’t manage to stay at the top. Washington last represented India, in Brisbane 2021, and has barely played since. In recent years Australia have celebrated young openers in Matthew Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft and Will Pucovski, all of whom have now disappeared from the Test arena.

Reddy’s career could be anything from here. His time could be long or short. What we can say is that his work that day was amazing, a child who recently received his 21st birthday key which unlocks his method. The skill, composure and level of difficulty mean this is an innings that should be in the top tier of MCG centuries. From here, who knows? If he gets back to 105 on the fourth morning, Siraj could help him add a few more. Trailing by 116 runs, India are not completely out of this game.