India held on to hopes of salvaging at least a draw in their fourth Test against Australia, inspired by Nitish Kumar Reddy’s first ton.

Nitish Kumar Reddy led India’s fightback against Australia on day three of the fourth Test, scoring his maiden Test century as he finished the day unbeaten on 105.

Reddy, playing in just his fourth Test for India, helped his side from 191-6 to 358-9 at stumps, handing the tourists a slim chance of victory in Melbourne.

Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja were unable to add significant numbers to their day two totals, falling early on to Nathan Lyon (2-88) and Scott Boland (3-57).

But with Reddy called up to the crease, he was able to steady India from a vulnerable 221-7, compiling a 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar (50).

Sundar, however, fell to Lyon not long after his half-century, with Reddy unbeaten on 97 when Jasprit Bumrah went for a three-ball duck off Pat Cummins’ (3-86) bowling.

But Mohammed Siraj (two not out) survived the rest of Cummins’ over and Reddy, batting at number eight, reached three figures by elegantly driving his 10th four of his innings.

Bad light and rain then arrived, with India still 116 runs behind – but Reddy’s knock means they have hope of at least a draw over the final two days, with the series tied at 1-1.

Data Debrief: Reddy takes the fight to Australia

Reddy came into this series as a relative unknown, with three T20Is his only previous matches for India, but he has now announced himself on the international stage.

He is the sixth Indian player after Ajay Ratra, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Ajit Agarkar and Hardik Pandya to score a century in a men’s Test outside India, batting at eight or lower.

But his partnership with Sundar proved to be pivotal in India’s comeback, with the pair going within inches of creating history.

Reddy and Sundar fell two runs shy of equalling the record for an eighth-wicket stand for India against Australia (129 by Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar in January 2008).