A come-from-behind win in a First-Class match is always a challenging feat, but it’s also a clear-cut objective. The trailing team knows exactly what needs to be done to turn the tide. TNCA President’s XI skipper and left-arm spinner M. Siddharth recognized this clarity as the key to his team’s remarkable turnaround victory in the Buchi Babu Memorial All India invitational cricket tournament.
The TNCA President’s XI, trailing Gujarat in Group B, secured a thrilling five-wicket win in the third round of the tournament. Siddharth attributed the victory to a clear understanding of the situation. “We let them get away with a few partnerships in their first innings. When it came to their second innings, we knew what to do. We had only one thing in mind – to get them out for at least 100 runs. We thought, ‘If we do that, we are in the game.'”
Siddharth’s team successfully bowled Gujarat out for a paltry 58 runs in their second innings, setting a target of 219 runs. The team’s strategy, focused on limiting Gujarat’s score, proved crucial. “The message to our team was to be as intentful as possible to get them bowled out for as few runs as possible within the 100-run mark. It was conveyed that only then we’ll be in the game. And I felt that they were short of a spinner. So, we thought we’ll take advantage of that. We thought if it’s less than 250, it’ll be our advantage,” he explained.
The victory was even more significant as it was a must-win game for the TNCA President’s XI to qualify for the semifinals. Siddharth himself took up the responsibility and single-handedly turned the game around with his exceptional eight-wicket haul for 21 runs in Gujarat’s second innings. He finished the match with a remarkable 14 wickets for 97 runs.
Siddharth attributes his improved match awareness to his recent stint with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). “I feel that I understand situations better after coming back (from the LSG camp in IPL 2024).”
His confidence was boosted even before the IPL season began when LSG head coach Justin Langer posed a specific question to him. “In the pre-season camp, Sridharan Sriram (LSG assistant coach) told me to be ready for the RCB game. When I was sitting on the physio bed in the team room, I met Langer for the first time. The first thing he asked me was, ‘Will you take Virat’s wicket for us?’ I replied, ‘Yes, sir. Definitely.'”
Siddharth’s self-belief and Langer’s confidence in him played a significant role in his IPL journey. “I think he would’ve seen my bowling in the videos he used to get from the pre-season camp. I didn’t ask him why his first question to me was that, but felt so happy to have been asked that. It gave me a lot of confidence,” he said.
And how did he feel when he finally achieved his goal and dismissed Virat Kohli for his first IPL wicket? “I felt that what I manifested had happened. I was very happy. I mean, no one would expect their first (IPL) wicket to be Kohli!” he exclaimed with a grin.
