The Indian youngster scores his maiden Test century to level the score in the third Test in Australia.

India seem to have unearthed a new gem in Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored a sensational first Test hundred to keep his team alive in the fourth Test against Australia.

The number eight batter’s scintillating 105 not out set the stage for India’s first innings of 358-9 in reply to Australia’s 445 in front of a sellout crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, including his teary-eyed father.

At 221-7, the risk of a second strike was high for India, but the seam-bowling all-rounder put together a 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar (50) in a spectacular rearguard action to rescue the tourists.

With India’s last batsman Mohammed Siraj at the other end, Reddy scored his first Test hundred with a four off Scott Boland.

The 21-year-old knelt, placed his helmet on the handle of his bat and pointed to the sky as his father wiped away tears of joy in the stands.

“It is a special day for the family. We will never forget this day,” Reddy senior, who quit his job to help shape his son’s career, told Fox Cricket.

“With only Siraj left, we were very, very tense. I prayed for him.”

Reddy made a strong impression on his first tour. He scored 41 and 38 not out in his first Test in the series opener in Perth, and his 42 in the drawn second Test in Adelaide was the highest by an Indian batsman in either innings.

India were in dire straits when Reddy went to the MCG to bat on Saturday and once again he responded with a counter-attack that erased much of Australia’s lead.

Reddy fulfilled his dream of playing alongside Virat Kohli and got his first Test match from his idol.

“I used to calculate my age to see if he wouldn’t retire when I made my debut for India,” the all-rounder said ahead of his Test debut.

Reddy is now India’s most productive batsman, second overall behind Australia’s Travis Head, despite playing as a lower-middle order batsman.

Reddy’s eight sixes in the series so far are the most by a touring Australian batter, equal with England’s Michael Vaughan and West Indies’ Chris Gayle.

The regular seamer also took three wickets but former India coach Ravi Shastri said Reddy deserved to bat higher in the rankings.

“I would like to get him into the top six,” Shastri told Star Sports. “Then you (India) can play five bowlers and get the team balance right.

“The team management must have confidence in him. Put him in the top six, he is as good as anyone with his technique, with his ability to play the quicks and the spinners.”